Unplug to re-connect
Unplug to re-connect
2 December 2025 - from 13h30 to 17h00
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
Bernadette Laermans
Bernadette Laermans is a senior trainer with a deep passion for understanding how people function physically, mentally, and emotionally — and especially how this influences their behavior at work.
With over 20 years of experience guiding employees, managers, entrepreneurs, and organizations across various sectors, Bernadette translates scientifically grounded insights into practical workshops, keynotes, webinars, and consultancy programs.
Her focus? Workplace well-being and impactful leadership. Always with one goal: to equip professionals with the tools they need to get the best out of themselves — and their work.
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
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Belgium
02 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven train station is approximately 4 km from the campus Gasthuisberg. Buses depart very regularly to the Gasthuisberg Campus from Leuven train station.
For tickets and up to date schedules visit website De Lijn or use the De Lijn App.
Exit at the very last bus stop ‘Gasthuisberg Campus) make sure not to exit at ‘Gasthuisberg Kliniek =
hospital)
Once you get off the bus, go to your right and go up the street until you see stairs to your left. Climb the stairs all the way up between two buildings. Look for the signs containing blue circles and white numbers and follow them all the way from 2 up to number 12. You will cross several buildings and the walk will take max. 10 minutes. When you reach number 12, you have reached O&N 5, where you can find the reception.
02 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
The Gasthuisberg campus is west of the Leuven ring. Our buildings are situated behind the hospital (see black arrow near ‘RING NOORD’ on the map). If you come from the city center, you will arrive on campus from the east side (taking Mgr. Van Waeyenberglaan and roundabout Het Teken). If you come from Heverlee or Campus Arenberg, you will arrive from the west side (taking the Celestijnenlaan and Taborweg). When you arrive uphill at the intersection with the Rega Institute and the Red Cross building, you need to take the road down to the bicycle parking at Rega Institute (see map) where you can park. Next, follow the ‘Onderwijs & Navorsing blue route’ description below (start point is #9).
02 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
You arrive via the E314 highway – EXIT 16
After 200 m, keep left to drive underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
You arrive via the Leuven ring road
At the roundabout, take the exit towards ‘Spoed / Ziekenhuis’.
Follow the ring around Campus Gasthuisberg and pass the entrance of SPOED.
Continue right until you arrive at a second roundabout.
Follow the directions for E314.
Near the Fire Brigade Station, make a U-turn and follow the directions for ‘Ziekenhuis’.
Keep left and drive downhill, underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
Next, leave the parking at level +1 using the big stairs near the vending machines.
Follow the red carpet and arrows to 'Onco Dagcentrum' to get to the O&N buildings. Take the stairs on your left after exiting Parking West. You are now in front of the O&N4 building; on the left you will find O&N5.
02 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
room 404-28.04.343 O&N5 4th floor