A Path to Wellness for Women of Color in Academia
Kenyatta Y. Dawson shines a light on the necessity of slowing down in today’s high-speed academic world.
In my quest for academic success, I often overlook my holistic health, a blend of mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
For women of color in academia, striking a balance between career responsibilities and personal needs can be daunting.
The merging of work and home life creates immense pressure, leaving me exhausted and prompting me to question the merit of taking time to unwind—a luxury I feel I can’t afford.
With the demands of daily meetings, endless deadlines, and various obligations, I’ve frequently skipped meals, forgotten to drink water, and neglected to take even a moment to breathe in the outdoors.
My self-care initiatives have taken a backseat in the frantic pace of my life.
As I approach my 40s, the repercussions of sidelining my well-being are difficult to ignore.
I grapple with muscle spasms, persistent neck pain, mental health struggles, and an ever-present fatigue.
The most striking reminder of this strain comes from my young daughter, who is aware of how hard I work.
Embracing a Slow Living Mindset
Slow living encourages us to adopt a lifestyle centered around mindfulness, sustainability, and quality rather than sheer productivity.
This approach calls for a more intentional way of living, emphasizing the importance of well-being, nurturing relationships, and fostering a balanced life.
For women of color in academia, integrating slow living practices can provide a vital counterbalance to the intense demands of teaching, administrative duties, seeking funding, and publishing scholarly work.
These responsibilities are often made more challenging by systemic issues such as microaggressions, tokenism, the need to code-switch, and the expectation to mentor students who share similar backgrounds.
The cumulative effect of these tasks can lead to cultural taxation and an exhausting load of invisible labor, heightening stress and risking burnout.
By adopting slow living, we can prioritize self-care and reconnect with our core values, building emotional strength and enhancing our mental health.
Putting Slow Living Principles into Practice
The slow living philosophy offers women of color in academia a way to reclaim time and energy, allowing a renewed focus on personal goals and well-being.
By weaving slow living strategies into our lives, we can better manage the multifaceted challenges of academic life with clarity and balance.
Practices such as morning meditation and nature walks can provide essential moments of peace.
Setting firm boundaries, saying no to extra commitments, and acknowledging the importance of taking mental health days can help conserve our energy.
By employing thoughtful time management, we can alleviate stress and ensure that our daily activities align with our values, enriching our academic journeys.
Institutional support that fosters mindful practices is vital in promoting the well-being and retention of women of color faculty, cultivating environments that prioritize self-care and work-life harmony.
This slow living approach can redefine how we view career fulfillment by connecting everyday tasks to our long-term aspirations.
Reflecting on our work facilitates the discovery of rewarding opportunities—such as collaborative projects—that resonate with our values.
This model encourages academic leaders to nurture teamwork, align visions, and prioritize personal growth and wellness.
Women of color faculty can harness this framework to engage in work that reflects their values, supported by their institutions, ultimately spurring fruitful collaborations and reducing feelings of burnout.
Incorporating slow living into academic culture could lead to significant reforms across departments.
By placing well-being and balance at the forefront, women of color faculty can inspire both colleagues and students.
This shift fosters a movement that champions mental health and personal fulfillment as vital elements of professional accomplishment.
Over time, these slow living principles could reshape how universities define success, placing greater emphasis on sustainability, collaboration, and meaningful contributions to the community.
To allow slow living to flourish in academia, institutions must commit to change.
Supporting women of color faculty to not only survive but thrive requires strong backing from their organizations.
We need structural changes to translate individual efforts into sustainable shifts that enrich the academic landscape.
To support the well-being and retention of women of color faculty, institutions should implement several key changes.
Flexible work arrangements, including remote teaching options and adjustable hours, could help faculty balance their professional duties and personal lives.
A comprehensive approach to tenure and promotion that values work-life balance alongside excellence in teaching, mentorship, and community engagement would foster a more inclusive culture.
Networks for mentorship and employee affinity groups provide essential support, and greater access to mental health resources can help combat burnout.
Initiatives like the University of California’s Advancing Faculty Diversity program exemplify efforts to acknowledge and fund contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Finally, incentivizing collaborative projects could help reshape what we consider success, placing a premium on contributions that benefit both individuals and institutions.
After years of relentless self-expectation, I realized a fundamental shift was necessary.
While a move to a tranquil countryside was impractical, I discovered that small daily habits could profoundly impact my hectic lifestyle.
Starting with a mere ten-minute morning walk in my neighborhood, I began tuning into the rhythm of my footsteps and immersing myself in the present moment.
I slowed down my typing, focused on deep breathing, and aimed for more intentional conversations.
These subtle changes fostered mindfulness and alleviated some of the urgency attached to productivity, nurturing quality time with my family.
Integrating slow living into my professional life has transformed how I view well-being and success, shifting my focus from mere task completion to embracing a more meaningful existence.
As members of the academic community, we must commit to continuous learning and adopt slow living principles within our daily routines.
Ultimately, if we find ourselves too busy to care for our personal needs, it’s time to reflect deeply on the purpose behind our work.
So, dear reader, I invite you to pause and consider: Take a deep breath.
Walk with intention.
Step away from the barrage of notifications in your inbox.
Engage in genuine conversations.
Together, let us rewrite the narrative that equates constant hustle with achievement.
Our careers, families, and, most importantly, our well-being deserve our attention and care.
Kenyatta Y. Dawson is a program director and faculty member at Texas Woman’s University, where she focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional advancement in higher education.
Her research interests include mentoring adult learners, fostering career satisfaction, and promoting equitable leadership practices.
Dawson expresses her appreciation for the Women’s Thought Leadership Program at Texas Woman’s University for amplifying underrepresented voices and fully embracing the mission of Write to Change the World to foster inclusivity and drive societal impact.
Source: Insidehighered