The Greater Good Science Center, based at the University of California, Berkeley, studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills with the intention of “fostering a thriving, resilient and compassionate society”.

With funding from the Einhorn Family Trust and the John Templeton Foundation, the Center has created an Education Program designed to support education professionals to better understand the roots of kind, helpful--or "prosocial"--behavior and emotional well-being, and how they can build those skills in themselves, their colleagues, and their students.

“Greater Good in Education advances the work of the GGSC Education Program by distilling key strategies for the social, emotional, and ethical development of students and for the well-being of the adults who work with them, synthesizing the top insights and practices from science, programs, and practitioners. It takes the science that the GGSC has been covering for years and puts it into a format tailored to the needs of educators, building on the other programs and activities of the GGSC Education Program.”

The Greater Good in Education Magazine website offers quizzes, podcasts, videos, books and studies around the themes of eleven areas of wellbeing:

·       Altruism

·       Awe

·       Bridging Differences

·       Compassion

·       Diversity

·       Empathy

·       Forgiveness

·       Gratitude

·       Happiness

·       Mindfulness

·       Social Connection

The magazine is currently featuring a number of articles on coping strategies for individuals and professionals in the education field during the COVID-19 crisis.

Articles are grouped under the categories of:

·       Big Ideas

·       Community

·       Culture

·       Education

·       Media & Tech

·       Mind & Body

·       Parenting & Family

·       Politics

·       Relationship

·       Society

·       Spirituality

·       Workplace

A current article, “Four Things to Do Every Day for Your Mental Health” recommends:

1.     Move. Our bodies need to move. They need to stretch, reach, twist, bend, step, sweat, to whatever degree works for our unique shapes and constitutions. They don’t care if it’s at the gym, out in the neighborhood, or in your living room—they just need activity. It’s not just about “staying in shape.” It’s about your immune health and your mental health, as well! Build movement in your structure, at least 20 minutes per day! YouTube exercise videos range from three-minute workouts to more than an hour, and many of them are family-friendly, too. 

2.     Nourish. You might have a sense of what foods make you feel lively, focused, resourced, and sane, right? And there are certainly those that are just for fun (hellooo, chocolate). At Open Source Wellness, we suggest not banning or outlawing the small treats that bring you joy, but rather setting up a daily structure that (mostly) fills you with nourishing, healthy foods. Always wanted to make a dietary change, learn to meal prep, teach your kids to cook, or sample a new cuisine? Now’s the time! Structure one or two 30-minute chunks of cooking into your days. 

3.     Connect. This one, more than ever, is key. Humans need to feel connected. We need to feel seen, heard, and understood by another human—and to extend the same in return. And since it won’t “just happen” throughout your day, you’re going to need to schedule it. More to the point, you’ll need to ask for it. To get vulnerable enough to say, “I really want to connect with you. Can we talk?” Tell the truth about how you’re feeling, what you’re experiencing. Invite them to do the same. Listen with kindness. Offer your support with generosity. High-quality human attention may feel like a scarce resource right now, but you can generate an infinite supply of it.

4.     Be. Amid all the “doing”—the preparing, protecting, adjusting, coping, responding, providing, procuring—humans need moments to simply BE. It’s not necessarily about serenity, or warm fuzzy feelings. It’s about pausing long enough to let your nervous system come back to baseline after prolonged activation. Experiment with what works for you. If meditation or guided relaxation works for you, great! If watching a crappy TV show while snuggled into the couch helps you to just BE, that’s good, too. And if painful emotions get too loud or overwhelming when you try to slow down, that’s OK, too.

Perhaps start with a little inventory. Of the four aspects of this “Universal Prescription,” which ones are you strongest in? Which ones do you incorporate effortlessly, as a part of your routine? Which ones might need a bit more attention, more practice, more cultivation? Then, pick one to focus on first: How might you structure it into your days?

In short, this is an opportunity to get really intentional. To choose rather than to drift.