Mindfulness and Writing

Writing in graduate school can be a very stressful experience, especially when writing high stakes documents like dissertations or articles for publication, but any writing can be challenging. Graduate school in general can be stressful and challenging for a variety of reasons. On this web page, we draw attention to the ways mindfulness can be a tool for reducing stress, improving focus, and cultivating well-being. Mindfulness can serve as a support for graduate students during their graduate school experience, for example by reducing stress around writing. There are many mindfulness resources at UCLA, many of which are offered through the UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center (MARC). Many offerings are free of charge for UCLA students because of the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative.

Below we have pulled together resources that relate to mindfulness practice in general or mindfulness and writing or higher education more specifically.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation

Free Resources for UCLA Students from the UCLA MARC

Introductory Books on Mindfulness

Resources on Mindfulness and Writing

Resources on Self-Compassion, Working with the Inner Critic

Sources on Contemplative Writing Pedagogy, Mindfulness in Higher Education

More Resources for Practice

Here are a couple guided meditations by Allyson Pimentel that were recorded with graduate students in mind. Each is about 10 minutes in length.

Huntington