Empowered by AI: Create a More Breathable, Sustainable Workday (2026 Fall NOW Encore Series)

Event details Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Location: Virtual Classroom Type: Lecture / Workshop Audience: Faculty,Staff About this event 2026 NOW Encore Series Higher education staff are navigating unprecedented workload pressures: increasing demands, shrinking resources, and the nonstop expectation to do more with less. Meanwhile, AI has entered the workplace—but most employees are unsure how to use it effectively, ethically, or in ways that genuinely reduce overwhelm rather than add to it. This session reframes AI through a human-centered, wellness-first lens. Instead of treating AI as a productivity mandate, participants will learn how to use AI as a tool for clarity, boundaries, and sustainable success. Using Helanah Warren’s “Breathable Workday Framework,” this interactive workshop demonstrates how AI can help UC staff reclaim time, reduce cognitive load, and create more space for the work that matters—without burnout, tech fatigue, or over-automation. Learning Outcomes: –How to use AI to streamline tasks like email, communication, planning, and documentation. –Scripts, prompts, and workflows that turn overwhelm into clarity. –Micro-boundaries that prevent AI from becoming “one more thing.” –A 3-step model for integrating AI ethically and sustainably. –Somatic and mindset strategies to stay grounded during tech-driven change. Registrants will be sent a Zoom link and bCal invite as the virtual workshop date draws near. Official event details: https://events.berkeley.edu/hr/event/327942-empowered-by-ai-create-a-more-breathable