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2025 Themes
February: Workplace & Culture
May: Therapeutic Techniques
August: Palliative Care
November: Caregivers
Putting Mindfulness into Practice in the Workspace
By Catherine Lili Kiang
Mindfulness. A term I encounter so frequently it became almost devoid of meaning. How often have I encouraged my patients to be fully present with their illness experience, to acknowledge and process their feelings before those feelings overwhelm them? Yet, I found myself falling short of this ideal. While I guided patients through mindfulness practices, my own days were a whirlwind of distractions. I will admit, I used to think of my lunchtime as self-care, but looking back, I was just scheduling time to dissociate. I’d quickly eat a meal while watching Netflix and glancing through patient charts. Ten minutes later, I’d realize I had finished my lunch without even noticing what I ate—and was disappointed that my break was already over.
I realized this was not sustainable. I needed to cultivate more mindfulness in my own life. Working in an inpatient setting, the only time and space I have to center myself is at my desk. I knew I could take at least a few minutes to myself for lunch every day, so I began with something simple: mindful eating. Instead of rushing through lunch at my desk, I slowed down, savoring each bite, truly experiencing the taste and texture of my food. This simple shift extended beyond the meal itself. I started to become more aware of my emotions, acknowledging how encounters with my patients were personally affecting me. I let myself feel these emotions rather than breathlessly going from one patient to another, it truly helped me engage with myself and my needs.
I also began to pay closer attention to my surroundings. On my desk I have beautifully illustrated word collages my mentor created for me as a gift to embody our time together. These images are filled with phrases that resonated with me during our sessions. I started to intentionally look at them, reflecting on their meaning, like authenticity and moral distress and how they connected to my current experiences. I noticed the green leaves of my plants, inspired by how they could survive against all odds with just the fluorescent light of my cubicle. I even noticed the simple comfort of my desk chair, a reprieve after walking from one patient’s room to another, always choosing the stairs over the elevator.
I started a daily tea ritual, with a bright, colorful tea calendar that surprises me with a different tea each day. I found myself looking forward to pulling out today’s tea, allowing myself a moment to enjoy it, savoring the flavor and feeling it bring me warmth. It has been a small act of self-care that brought a sense of calm to my day.
My team also has a weekly narrative medicine session where we read and discuss poetry. I hang the most meaningful ones at my desk. During my mindfulness moments, I find my eyes drifting over their words, serving as reminders of the deeper meaning in our work, their impact shifting with the experiences of my patients.
By incorporating these small acts of mindfulness at my desk, I have found myself feeling more centered, less overwhelmed, and better equipped to connect with my patients.
I encourage you all to explore ways to bring more mindfulness into your workspace, to put our guidance into practice, and to experience the profound benefits of being fully present in your work and in your own lives.
About the Author

Catherine Lili Kiang, LMSW
Supportive Care Social WorkerMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
KiangC2@mskcc.org
Catherine (Lili) Kiang, LMSW, is a Supportive Care Social Worker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she provides emotional support and guidance to patients and their families navigating the challenges of cancer. Prior to joining MSK,...
Read Full Author Bio

Catherine Lili Kiang, LMSW
Supportive Care Social WorkerMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
KiangC2@mskcc.org
Catherine (Lili) Kiang, LMSW, is a Supportive Care Social Worker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she provides emotional support and guidance to patients and their families navigating the challenges of cancer. Prior to joining MSK, Lili trained in the Palliative Care department at NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue.
Lili earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the New York University Silver School of Social Work in 2022, where she was a fellow in the Zelda Foster Studies in Palliative and End-of-Life Care program. Her training also includes grief support facilitation at Good Grief, a center dedicated to supporting children and families through loss.
Currently, Lili leads a caregiver support group, providing vital resources and emotional support to those caring for loved ones with cancer. She was honored with a Biogene scholarship to attend the 2024 AOSW Conference and is an active member on the REACH for Caregivers Committee at MSK.
Articles
Putting Mindfulness into Practice in the Workspace