It is often difficult to reconnect with oneself when caught up in the whirlwind of personal or professional obligations in today’s world, where social acceleration is a constant due to technological advancement and the advent of Artificial Intelligence. We juggle with ever-increasing responsibilities and race at a frantic pace toward ever more ambitious goals, never taking the time to refocus on our core values. This constant race toward an ever more distant and uncertain future leaves no room for reflection, generating increasing stress that negatively impacts our mental health and relationships. At the same time, social acceleration raises important questions about how to help University employees manage to cope with these life stressors and lead healthier lives. Within this fast-paced social and professional setting, where staff are increasingly facing more work pressure, stress and tight deadlines, helping staff to maintain a healthy work-life balance is fundamental.

It is in this context that the University of Mauritius organised a workshop on ‘Self-awareness, Emotional Intelligence and Wellbeing’ held on Thursday 13th November 2025 at Lecture Theatre II. The workshop organised by the Office of Human Resources and the Psychology Unit of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), was led and delivered by Mrs Smita Rampat and Dr Mylene Lecoq-Bamboche, both lecturers in Psychology from the FSSH. 

The overarching goal of the workshop was to help University employees navigate in a complex environment, while maintaining their anchors in their core values and learning about themselves. 

There is a strong need to foster and encourage collaborative and respectful relationships between UoM staff members. The workshop was therefore designed to give staff members the opportunity to learn and develop their self-awareness, manage their emotions more effectively and enhance their personal and professional relationships. 

The main objectives of the workshop were to: 

• Develop greater self-awareness and emotional control. 

• Understand key components of Emotional Intelligence. 

• Build Emotional regulation.

• Learn practical techniques to enhance empathy and communication. 

• Apply Emotional Intelligence (EI) principles in daily and professional life. 

The Resource Persons provided practical tools through reflective exercises and techniques. Participants explored key areas such as: 

• Understanding the Self: Participants were invited to reflect on their internal states and self-perception and how they are perceived by others. They identified their core identity anchors, which are often tied to core values, and learned how value-based self-perception builds resilience and wellbeing, thereby bringing more inner stability.

• Mastering Emotional Regulation: Participants learned about triggers and reactions, and how noticing their triggers helped them learn and adjust and not simply react impulsively. The Resource Persons also introduced the "90-Second Emotion Rule", i.e. when an emotion is triggered, the chemical reaction in the body lasts only about 90 seconds, after which the bodily activation fades, and a simple 3-step method to pause, name emotions, and choose conscious responses over impulsive reactions.

• Emotional Intelligence: EI helps to improve communication and teamwork, strengthens leadership and decision-making, enhances personal wellbeing and builds resilience under pressure. Attendees were asked to put into practice the PAUSE, BREATHE, RESPOND technique with the following steps: 

Step 1: Pause before Reacting

Step 2: Breathe deeply and reset

Step 3: Choose your response consciously

• Building Empathy and Social Awareness: Facilitators highlighted that the capacity to understand others' perspectives and feelings, while maintaining respectful boundaries, is key to healthy interactions.

• Identity-Based Habits: Wellbeing is built through consistent, tiny "identity-based habits" that reinforce who we are and who we want to be, both at work and at home.

The facilitators emphasised that Emotional Intelligence is the bridge between self-awareness and empathy, enabling healthier and more productive interactions for everyone.

This workshop, a direct outcome of the University's commitment to its staff's holistic professional and personal development, marks a positive step in fostering a culture of respect, introspection, and emotional wellbeing within the UoM community. As the University of Mauritius continues to celebrate its 60th Anniversary, let us all commit to build a stronger and more supportive UoM community.