On behalf of the EU GREEN Alliance, it is a pleasure to welcome you to this session in the framework of World Harmony Day.
Harmony is not only about peaceful coexistence between cultures and communities—it also begins within ourselves. In the university context, fostering harmony means creating environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This is precisely the spirit behind the work developed within WP8: Campus Life, where mental health and well-being are central priorities.
Today, we are glad to present an activity that reflects this commitment: the integration of relaxation and active breaks into university life.
We will begin with an introduction from the University of Évora, who has been leading important work in this area.
Following that, we will explore students’ perspectives through the study on “University Students’ Perceptions and Preferences Regarding Relaxation Breaks.” Understanding what students actually need and value is essential if we want to design effective well-being strategies.
We will then move beyond the lecture hall with a qualitative exploration of how short relaxation breaks can influence student well-being and focus. These insights highlight that even brief interventions can have a meaningful impact on attention, stress reduction, and overall academic experience.
To complement this, we will look at the broader picture:
What does the scientific literature tell us about active breaks among university students?
This joint contribution from the University of Évora, the University of Gävle, and the University of Extremadura brings together evidence that supports the integration of movement and relaxation into daily academic routines.
A key highlight of today’s session is the presentation of the aBREAK4you project—its origins, development, and the official launch of its video resources. This initiative represents a concrete tool that universities can adopt to promote healthier study habits and improve student well-being in a simple, accessible way.
We will also hear about the practical experiences of the University of Extremadura and the University of Évora in producing and implementing these videos. Their collaboration demonstrates how shared efforts within the EU GREEN Alliance can lead to tangible and scalable outcomes.
And, in the true spirit of today’s theme, we will not only talk about relaxation—we will also experience it together, with a short guided relaxation moment.
To conclude, this activity embodies what EU GREEN stands for:
collaboration, innovation, and care for the university community. By integrating small but meaningful practices into everyday academic life, we can move towards more balanced, inclusive, and harmonious campuses.
collaboration, innovation, and care for the university community. By integrating small but meaningful practices into everyday academic life, we can move towards more balanced, inclusive, and harmonious campuses.
