How the Library can help improve your focus and wellbeing
As you get further into the trimester, being organised with a bit of planning and the right resources can help you manage stress, stay focused and improve your wellbeing. We have put together some of our favourite ideas and tips for how to take care of your mental wellbeing, organise your study tasks and seek support when needed.
Pat a therapy dog or practise mindfulness in the Library
Take a moment to find your inner calm by visiting Deakin Library during Week 4 (24–28 March) for Mind Matters Week. Enjoy pats and chats with friendly therapy dogs and their handlers or take a mindful study break with free snacks and silent disco headphones. Find the event at your nearest campus library below.
Check out the Mind Matters calendar of events to see what’s happening in the Library and around campus.
Meet people at the Library Study, Snacks and Chats group
It’s not too late to join your local campus’s Library Study, Snacks and Chats group! This is a great way to meet fellow students in the Library, discover what services are available to students at Deakin, learn study tips from experts and of course – enjoy free snacks! Study, Snacks and Chats runs from Week 2 to Week 7.
- At Burwood, Waurn Ponds and Waterfront it will run every Tuesday at 2pm until 15 April.
- At Warrnambool there will be two sessions on Wednesday 12 March and 26 March at 12.30pm.
Find support for a diverse range of needs
We all learn and process information in different ways. People who are auditory learners or struggle to read on the page often enjoy the ability to convert text to audio, which is available on many resources in the Library collection. You can take some time to yourself in one of our Reset Rooms, where you are free to adjust the lights and move furniture around to make yourself comfortable. We also recommend our resource guides on Active reading and Making digital notes.
Finally, we encourage students to explore registering with the Disability Resource Centre, which provides many students with essential support during their time at Deakin. One Library staff member likes to share that they waited until their last semester of studying a postgraduate degree to do so, and once they did, it made the experience of studying so much better. You don’t have to struggle alone!
Our helpful librarians put together several resources that could be beneficial to neurodivergent students looking for advice and ideas outside the Library:
- ADHD: Tips for Managing Your Study at Deakin
- ADHD Support Group
- Support for autistic students with Navigate
- Deakin Disability Neurodivergency Association (DDNA)
- Procrastination and low motivation make productivity difficult. Body-doubling might help.
- Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Use your librarian – the original search engine!
Librarians are invaluable resources for finding information and navigating the Library’s extensive resources. They are the original search engine and are always ready to answer your questions! They can help you locate specific articles, books and other materials for your assignments. They are also friendly faces that can point you in the right direction. Don’t hesitate to pick their brains. Reach out anytime on Library Chat, or walk into your campus library and head to the service desk.
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We hope these tips will help keep the stress away this trimester. Be sure to check the Deakin Library What’s On calendar for all the Mind Matters events happening in the Library. We look forward to seeing you there!