Study well
Study well addresses the themes covered in our workshops on procrastination, navigating uni, criticism, feedback, imposter syndrome, high workload, and burnout.
Online resources
Procrastination
- Listen to Professor Barbara Oakley talk about learning how to learn, including boosting memory and neutralising procrastination.
- Try out this goal breakdown worksheet to help you achieve goals in small steps and overcome stress and procrastination.
- Read about why boredom can be good for you, and how you can go with the flow and embrace gaps in activity.
- Use the Pomodoro Technique. for focus and regular breaks
- Habitica is an app to help you motivate yourself to achieve goals, by turning all of your daily tasks in to little monsters you have to conquer.
- SelfControl is a free open source app for macOS that let you block your own access to distracting websites.
- Cold Turkey lets you block applications and enables you to add pomodoro-style breaks or a daily time limit.
Navigating uni life
- Check out study skills worksheets and online modules from Student Learning to help you or a friend with study skills.
- Forest is an app to help you stay focused Try out Forest, an app to help you stay focussed and present while studying.
- Read about becoming a more effective learner.
- Try out this worksheet from Health Navigator to work out who your support people are at Uni.
- Angela Duckworth talks about grit, the power of passion, and perseverance you can transfer to your studies.
- Take notice, me aro tonu. Remember the simple things that give you joy, from the Mental Health Foundation’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing campaign.
Criticism
- Read about how practising positive self-talk improves your holistic self-acceptance of all aspects of yourself.
- Try out a series of 9 self-compassion exercises and worksheets for increasing compassion as an effective tool for improving our lives.
- Listen to an interview about investigating your inner critic and how to make it less punishing.
- Try keeping a gratitude journal to help you combat the inner critic and approach your feelings from a place of curiosity and acceptance.
- Listen to Mamie Morrow talk about how our belief in our own ability to succeed is critical to succeeding.
- Read about eight tips for handling criticism well.
Feedback
- Read Employment New Zealand’s tips for giving and receiving feedback.
- Read about the benefits of being grateful for getting feedback and how to give effective feedback to others.
- Watch a video on the joy of receiving feedback and how feedback can lead to self-discovery.
- Read about overcoming fixation on bad things.
Imposter syndrome
- Listen to an interview about ‘the biggest critic of me is me’, investigating your inner critic and how to make it less punishing.
- Listen to Mamie Morrow talk about how our belief in our own ability to succeed is critical to succeeding.
- Read about what self-efficacy is and try out the quick self-efficacy test.
- Read about what Imposter Syndrome is and how to overcome it.
- Read about how common Imposter Syndrome is and what you can do to reduce it.
- Listen to an interview with New Zealand’s Imposter Syndrome expert Jess Stuart.
- Watch a video for tips to combat Imposter Syndrome
High workload
- Read about what self-efficacy is and try out the quick self-efficacy test.
- Read about the effects of working too much and how to reduce your workload.
- Talk to your Faculty Office about options for restructuring your course load.
- Check out Student Learning’s study resources to improve your writing, time management, note-taking, research skills and more.
- Watch this quick video about why self-care is important and how to incorporate it into your life.
Burnout
- Check out how to simplify your life from the School of Life.Learn how to paint with Bob Ross as he explains tools, colours, and how to paint at home.
- Check out The Joy Project from Radio New Zealand. From spirituality and dancing to pottery and rowing, a group of New Zealanders share what makes them happy.
- Tips to avoid stress and burnout from a Health Navigator.
- Read about five tips for students to avoid burnout from The Conversation.
- Read about how too much stress can be harmful and the benefits of refuelling, resolving and relaxing.
- Watch a webinar from the Goodfellow Unit about tackling burnout and thriving in the future.
- Watch a short video about how to deal with student burnout.
Workshops
All of the content in our online resources aligns with the messages in our weekly wellbeing workshops.
Professional support
Sometimes, you will need support and guidance from health professionals to help you through tough times. Reach out and seek support when you need to.
There are free health and wellbeing services on campus and outside of the University that provide support and information to students.