Congratulations on your acceptance to Banff Centre online programming!
Residencies and programs at Banff Centre can be a transformative experience for art, practice, personal and professional
goals, perspective and often identity. This overall experience can be celebratory and exciting; at the same time, it can
challenge your resilience and well-being.
The current global pandemic with its uncertainty and change thrust upon us has exacerbated this challenge, greatly
impacting our anxieties, vulnerabilities, and fear. We strongly encourage you to consider how you will prepare yourself
for your program so you can arrive well, fully participate, and have a rewarding and impactful experience.
It is helpful to reflect on the tools and strategies you are currently employing at home to maintain your well-being as
well as the support networks and usual self-care practices you have relied upon for balance during Covid-19. Whether it
is a mindfulness or yoga practice, reaching out to an Elder or community member, a session with your therapist, a walk
outside or in nature, or a coffee with a friend, think through the actions you can take when you recognize signs of
increasing stress and anxiety to address and diffuse the challenges you may encounter through online programming and
practice (difficult conversations, managing expectations of self and others, isolation, frustration with technology, intense
program pace and/or challenging materials, etc.).
To guide this self-reflection, below are:
(1) Some suggestions for actions to take before, during and after your program
(2) An Online Program Self Care Worksheet to guide you through this process with particular attention paid to
challenges experienced during online programming
(3) Some ideas for finding local wellness and mental health resources or services, as well as examples of resources and
services specific to Canada.
Before you begin the program:
• reflect on the support systems, network and self-care strategies you employ to feel centered, calm and engaged
(physical exercise, socialization, cooking, alone time, music/video games, gathering with family and friends, regular
sleep, healthy food)
• manage expectations of your program, work to be accomplished, Banff Centre facilitation and faculty; experiment
with setting goals while being flexible and open to the various possibilities your experience in an online program at
Banff Centre may hold.
• think about your daily routine at home, work and in your practice; how that may be impacted and how it may be
adjusted.
• reflect on your “pressure points” and stressors. How can you anticipate them during your online program? How will
you identify and address them?
During the program:
• set aside time to regularly check in with loved ones/friends/supports to ground yourself, to share experiences
• establish a daily routine early on with some flexibility built in to allow for breaks and processing of program
learnings
• monitor how you are doing and reach out to a trusted resource if you need support
At end of program:
• take time to reflect on your experience and learnings, and what you most want to take away from the program to
incorporate into your practice, work, life, etc.
• consider reaching out to connections you made with other participants in your program to share experiences and
support each other in meeting goals set within the program
• think about how you will balance your ‘home’ routine and obligations with the transformations and clarifications
you experienced in your program
