What is Focus and Learn Day?
Did you know employees who feel their wellbeing is important to their employer are 71% less likely to report experiencing burnout? Focus and Learn Days are a research-backed way to reduce stress and anxiety around your workload, boost your sense of wellbeing, and help you carve out time for intentional professional development. They’re your monthly chance to slow down and get intentional about your needs as an employee, and as a person. How you spend your day is up to you.
The first Focus and Learn Days were piloted in spring of 2021. Based on overwhelmingly positive employee feedback, the Focus and Learn Day Committee, with the support of SLCC’s Executive Cabinet, moved to establish Focus and Learn Days as a permanent part of the college’s annual calendar.
Now, these quiet days to pause and regroup fall on the third Friday of each month. We hope knowing about your Focus and Learn day ahead of time will help you prepare for a day free from phone calls, emails and other interruptions in the way that works best for you. Creating space to focus is most successful when it’s an institution-wide effort, which is why we’ve asked supervisors to come on board with Focus and Learn Day.
Wondering how to spend your day? Here are some ways SLCC employees make their Focus and Learn Days feel rejuvenating and fulfilling.
How to Make the most of Focus and Learn Days
Innovation and Ideation
- Slow down, take stock of your current projects and how you divide your time.
- Research a trend in your field that looks exciting.
- Brainstorm solutions to problems you face in your workflow.
Focus and Learn Days 2023-2024
Choose Your Experience
Friday, September 15
CH20- Achieving Harmony: How to Maintain a Healthy Work/Life Balance
Participants will learn how to:
- Recognize the signs of poor work life balance
- Create manageable work and personal goals
- Plan your time productively, including breaks
- Distinguish when you need support and how to get it
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
IDFO- Digital File Organization Workshop
Are your files a mess? Learn how to organize your digital files to make work easier.
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in person- OIT Training Lab
- 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
CH21- Employee Wellness- Resiliency-based yoga practice
Restorative classes meant for all levels. All you need are comfortable clothes
and a towel or mat to put on the floor. You are always welcome to use a chair
or stand for class if you don't have a mat.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in person Professional Development Center, TB Building 2nd Floor
CH22- Employee Wellness- Stress Free Session
Session provides participants with a variety of experiences that teach the importance of understanding and managing stress.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
Friday, October 20
CH23- Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Participants will learn how to:
- Increase your curiosity and open-mindedness
- Learn how to quickly analyze and evaluate information
- Learn how to better organize and apply your ideas
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
IMTC- Microsoft Teams
Is everyone in your office dancing to a different beat? Learn how to use Microsoft Teams to improve collaboration.
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in person- OIT Training Lab
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
CH21- Employee Wellness- Resiliency-based yoga practice
Restorative classes meant for all levels. All you need are comfortable clothes
and a towel or mat to put on the floor. You are always welcome to use a chair
or stand for class if you don't have a mat.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in person Professional Development Center, TB Building 2nd Floor
CH24- Employee Wellness- Gratitude
Learn how to pause and appreciate what is good in life.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
Friday, November 17
CH25- Planning for Personal Success
In this interactive workshop we will discuss:
- Creating your personal definition for success
- How to set SMART goals
- Establishing and updating a written plan
- Implementing action steps
- How to remain encouraged and focus on progress not perfection
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
ICEE- Creating impactful charts in Excel
Use Excel to create engaging and easy to read charts.
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in person -OIT Training Lab
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
CH21- Employee Wellness- Resiliency-based yoga practice
Restorative classes meant for all levels. All you need are comfortable clothes
and a towel or mat to put on the floor. You are always welcome to use a chair
or stand for class if you don't have a mat.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in person Professional Development Center, TB Building 2nd Floor
CH26- Employee Wellness – Mindfulness
Learn to be more aware of each moment and being fully engaged.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
Friday, December 22
CH27-Stay Motivated: Tips for Leveraging Your Superpower
This seminar will teach the 3-part theory of human motivation. You'll identify your motivational style
(e.g. your super power!) and learn strategies that will keep you motivated so you can achieve any goal.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
IM36- Microsoft 356 apps
Everything you wanted to know about using the Microsoft 365 apps like Forms, Sway, Delve, and Bookings but were afraid to ask.
- 10:00a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in person -OIT Training Lab
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. -Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
CH21- Employee Wellness- Resiliency-based yoga practice
Restorative classes meant for all levels. All you need are comfortable clothes
and a towel or mat to put on the floor. You are always welcome to use a chair
or stand for class if you don't have a mat.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in person Professional Development Center, TB Building 2nd Floor
CH28- Employee Wellness - Science of Awe
Learn to gravitate toward the unexpected and experience “Awe”.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Online – zoom link will be provided after registration
Mark Your Calendars
2024 dates:
- January 19
- February 16
- March 15
- April 19
- May 17
- June 21
More Information & Registration
You must register for each training event. View the Registration Tutorial. Register in the MySLCC Employee Training Portal.
Search under “Information Technology” for the IT Workshops and search under “Staff Development” for all other workshops.
Please note, the Employee Wellness sessions are not available for the Employee Wellness incentive.
Prior to each workshop, you will receive a link to join the meeting. Visit the catalog for a listing of all Staff Development training events.
If you need ADA accommodations, please contact Meredith John via Email: meredith.john@slcc.edu Questions? Contact Anjali Pai (anjali.pai@slcc.edu).
FAQs
Reach out to your supervisor. Suggest alternatives to the meeting that allow you to participate consistently in Focus and Learn Days. We want the whole college in on this!
If your Associate Dean has meetings planned for the third Friday of each month, try discussing alternate options. We hope the consistency of our new calendar will help you and your department benefit from Focus and Learn Days.
SLCC’s Focus and Learn Days are intended for all employees. We recognize that Academic Departments and others may have work obligations that prevent them from participating on the dates scheduled, but this should not be a reason to keep departments from participating. The President encourages each of us to be “…intentional about your calendar and make sure you block off time for professional development and focused learning.” Departments are encouraged to be creative in how they support faculty's engagement with Focus and Learn Day efforts. Staggered half-day increments during the same week as Focus and Learn Day may work better for the department. Or consider consolidating meeting agenda items to better free up time for a Focus and Learn Day. Be creative in your efforts.
Contact a member of our team for help or if you have questions.
- Anjali Pai - anjali.pai@slcc.edu
- Christina McWhinnie - Christina.McWhinnie@slcc.edu
We know this can get tricky. Your supervisor is the best resource. They’ll help your team find a way to maintain essential operations while encouraging you and your colleagues to participate in monthly Focus and Learn Days.
Tempting, right? But the day is about creating conditions for employees to focus and learn. It's still a workday, albeit one free from interruptions and distractions.
We encourage you to respect your colleagues during Focus and Learn Day. This means avoiding calls, emails, texts and meetings. Try to postpone email correspondence until the following Monday. Utilize that “schedule send” feature!
Of course. We encourage all part-time, adjunct and full-time employees to participate in whatever way fits you best.
Check out these online resources:
Find useful information and templates here: Growth, Planning and Support Explained.
Or, read through the following: