Library Services Blog

Starting university is a significant milestone - and the summer before you enrol is a crucial time!

As an incoming student you have free access to this Skills for Study online module - Getting Ready for Academic Study.

This will help you prepare ahead of your first few weeks at university. 

The module includes:

•  Academic study preparation hints and tips
• Strategies for studying and what to expect from university
• Videos and reflections from students who have made the move
• Downloadable checklists and planning tools

You can access the module here using your personal email address:

https://go.shu.ac.uk/skillready

And then don't forget to register using your university email address when you enrol in September to access the other modules to help develop your study skills!

Are you looking for a way to enhance your productivity and stay motivated? Join our upcoming Body Doubling sessions, part of our Research Project Month for students. These sessions are open to all students and offer a unique opportunity to work alongside peers, providing the perfect environment to stay focused and make meaningful progress on your work. There are sessions at City, Collegiate and online.

Body doubling is a simple yet powerful technique where you work silently alongside others, either in person or virtually. The presence of others working at the same time can give you a motivational lift, help you stay focused, and make it easier to get things done.

During these sessions, you'll set clear goals, engage in two 40 minute blocks of dedicated work time, and participate in a halfway check-in to review your progress. At the end of each session, you'll have the chance to reflect on your progress and how you can use the techniques from the session in your own study time.

Book now and give your productivity a boost!

 University Mental Health Day 2024 

University Mental Health Day brings together the university community to make mental health a university-wide priority and create ongoing year round change to the future of student mental health.

​Now more than ever it's important to get the nation talking about student mental health.

Read more about University Mental Health day here.

 Reading for Wellbeing Reading List 

The aim of the list is to act as a starting point to provide you with initial reading and information around a range of wellbeing topics with links to the resource within the Library collections.

The list is often updated with new resources or weblinks.

This list has a lovely range of resources to support you but sometimes you may need to reach out to a support service.

Explore the reading list here.

 About the library's Curated Reading Lists 

Here at Hallam Library, your librarians, have handcrafted a range of curated reading lists to help explore a range of political and social issues, or find genre fiction to help you unwind and take a break from academic studies – recreational reading with a little bit of dystopian fiction anyone?

Discover more here.

Introduction

Mental Health Awareness Week May 15 - 21 hosted by the Mental Health Foundation

This years theme: Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.

Anxiety is a complex emotion and whilst there are a range of things we can do to cope with feeling anxious, if you are finding it hard to make those steps or want to talk, the Student Wellbeing team is here to help you get the support you need. You can reach them here.

Reading for Wellbeing

Our reading list is packed full of resources to support your mental health and we’ve chosen a few titles with the theme of Anxiety to get you started

We're All Mad Here: The No-Nonsense Guide to Living with Social Anxiety by Claire Eastham
Claire Eastham, a twenty-something living in London and working in her dream job, has a seemingly perfect life - except for her social anxiety. Combining honest personal insights, humour and practical advice, this book explains what anxiety is, why it happens, and how to survive it.

Anxiety, Depression and Anger - Toolbox for Teens: 50 Powerful Mindfulness, CBT and Positive Psychology Activities to Manage Your Emotions by Jeffrey Bernstein
This new mood management toolbox brings together the powers of mindfulness, CBT and positive psychology for teens to take control of their distressing thoughts and over-the-top emotions.

Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing by Luke Beardon
One of the biggest challenges if you are an autistic adult (or suspect you might be) is navigating the situations which to the predominantly neurotypical population might appear completely benign but which cause you huge stress, anxiety and worry. Dr Luke Beardon has put together an optimistic, upbeat and readable guide that will be essential reading not just for any autistic adult, but for anyone who loves, lives with or works with an autistic person.

Essential Art Therapy Exercises: Effective Techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression and PTSD by Leah Guzman
Process difficult thoughts and feelings with art therapy. Essential Art Therapy Exercises shows you how creating art can help ease depression, anxiety, PTSD, and life's other challenges. Art therapy activities like drawing, painting, and sculpting will help you better understand your state of mind in order to gain control over your emotions and improve your self-esteem

Learning to Live with Climate Change: From Anxiety to Transformation by Blanche Verlie
This book presents an increased understanding and appreciation of how interconnected climate and humans are and offers strategies for coping and adapting to the distressing realities of climate change. In this innovative and empowering study, Blanche Verlie draws on more-than-human and affect theory to argue that if we are to become climate change responsible, we need to learn to 'live-with' climate change and achieve an increased appreciation of the interconnected nature of existence.

The Anxiety Survival Guide: Getting Through the Challenging Stuff by Bridie Gallagher, Sue Knowles, Phoebe McEwen and illustrated by Emmeline Pidgen
As well as providing tried-and-tested advice and exercises that are proven to reduce feelings of anxiety, this survival guide includes recovery stories from people who have managed their symptoms successfully. Co-written with psychologists and a college student who has experienced anxiety herself, this is a relatable and straightforward guide to managing worry in emerging adulthood.

Explore the full reading list here

Further resources

Mental Health Foundation’s what can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?

Anxiety is something we can all experience from time-to-time. There are lots of reasons why we get this feeling. It can be connected to a job, school, a relationship, social situations, how we feel about ourselves, or a change in our life.

Sheffield Hallam University Student Wellbeing Service

We care about your wellbeing and we know that you need to feel well to do your best. We have lots of information, resources and support available on this site to help you do just that.

Explore the topic: Anxiety

NHS Sheffield Talking Therapies

Sheffield Talking Therapies provide a range of free NHS talking therapies for anyone aged 18 or over who lives in Sheffield helping thousands of people in the city who are struggling with how they are feeling.

Explore our featured Mental Health Awareness Week playlist at Box of Broadcasts [log-in required]

On demand TV and radio service for education with an archive of over 2.2 million broadcasts dating back to the 1990s. Stream anywhere in the UK, anytime.
 

Extensive resources and support at Mind UK

Offering information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf. It also works to raise public awareness and understanding of issues relating to mental health

Exams can often be nerve-wracking experiences, but it’s important to try to manage your nerves and prevent them from affecting your performance. Read our blog post about managing exam nerves.