Restoring balance in a connected world
Restoring balance in a connected world
16 March 2026, 13h30 - 17h
General context
Unplugging for greater productivity, focus, and job satisfaction!
Being always connected can have a major impact on both our concentration (during work) and the ability to mentally disconnect from work. That, in turn, impacts your concentration and productivity, and the negative spiral is set off. The consequences of always being on can weigh on our well-being as well as our productivity.
That is why, during this training, you will gain insight into your own disconnection profile, and we will provide tools to deal with various forms of hyperconnectivity. You will go home with hands-on techniques to deal with the 3 forms of disconnection (digital, psychological, and emotional) into practice.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify their personal connection/disconnection profile and how it affects their concentration, boundaries, and work behavior.
- Recognize digital stressors (“techno-stress”) and energy drains in their daily routine.
- Apply practical strategies to improve digital, psychological, and emotional disconnection.
- Reflect on their current work-life balance and take steps to improve it sustainably.
- Set realistic expectations for themselves and others to prevent overload.
- Make conscious choices about connectivity and digital availability.
- Assertively communicate personal boundaries and needs in a professional context.
- Integrate new routines that promote focus, recovery, and well-being.
This training uses a spaced learning format to support long-term behavioral change. Before the session, participants complete an intake and disconnection profile checklist via the online learning platform.
The in-person or online workshop includes:
- real-life case discussions,
- individual reflection exercises, and
- actionable tools for balanced connectivity.
After the session, participants are invited to take part in a “buddy challenge” and receive follow-up nudges via the platform to reinforce learning. The approach is experience-based, practical, and aimed at creating lasting habits for better focus and well-being.
The course focused on the different forms of connectivity and provided a framework of thinking as well as practical ways to improve the ability to disconnect. The importance of this was explained in context of different forms of energy and rest activities. The interaction was nicely done as well.
Participant edition 2024
Trainers
Katrien Giebens
Katrien has over twenty-five years of experience in management roles in academia and retail. She excels at delivering messages in an engaging way, persuading and inspiring people—something she both enjoys and does well. Regardless of age, language, or background, Katrien knows how to successfully draw anyone into a story, thanks to her experience in various professional contexts.
Program
The program of this training is composed of 6 parts in which the transfer of what has been learned is always guaranteed.
Your connected brain
- Your brain in hyperconnection
- Exercise: Your 'connection' profile and its impact
- 3 forms of disconnection (digital, psychological and emotional)
Digital disconnection: The digital brain
- The neuroscience of Digital Wellbeing
- Exercise: mapping digital 'gains & drains
- Exercise: handles for digital comfort (example: Appendix A.2.)
- Digital Etiquette: the brain balance
Psychological disconnection: The ON/OFF switch
- Why a digital detox works for zebras, but not for us
- Exercise: How to make the bridge
- Exercise 'Grip on time': about loose ends, priorities and goals
- The ON/OFF switch: unplugging techniques
Emotionally disconnecting: rumination can be (un)teached
- Why your brain sticks to your work
- From disconnection to connection-equilibrium
- Exercise: Work Related Thought Questionnaire
Personal action plan
- The disconnection framework©: your guide after today
- Exercise: Completing the disconnection framework©
- Exercise: How do I bring this to my supervisor/team?
- Post-work framework
Practical info
02 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
02 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
02 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
02 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.