Winter Wellbeing book display

Brighten up your day with a book from our Winter Wellbeing book display.

Looking to take more self-care cues from the seasonal shifts?

We’ve selected some titles to help with embracing winter as a season for rest and recovery. Now is an excellent time of year to learn more about the Danish concept of hygge, or read up on the benefits of connecting with nature.

These books are perfect for reading with a hot drink – which you’re welcome to bring into the library provided they are in reusable cups with a lid.

You can find the display just around the corner from the issue desk.

Find more information on wellbeing at the Bodleian Libraries on the Wellbeing in the libraries webpage.

https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/wellbeing

 

Think we’re missing a title? Email us at ssl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Beating the 5th Week Blues – Wellbeing at the SSL

5th Week at Oxford is sadly known as the week in which many students struggle with burnout, low mood and homesickness. At the halfway point in the term, it’s easy to neglect wellbeing in favour of putting university assignments first. However, here at the SSL, we have collated some ways you can prioritise your welfare whilst at the library or as a student in Oxford more generally.

Take regular study breaks

Whilst studying, it’s important to take regular breaks to care for your mental health and prevent burnout. Taking a rest also stops you from having too much screentime and ensures you’re more productive too. We have a comfy seating area at the back of the Reader PC section where you can take a break away from your desk and unwind in the middle of a study session. There are also power sockets if you need to charge up your phone.

A photo of a woman in a yellow jumper reading a book on the blue comfy seats in the SSL

Study in a group in one of our discussion rooms

Studying in a group can be helpful to combat isolation, stress and pressure in academic environments. A 2017 study even discovered that a study group could be beneficial for mental health at university. Additionally, studying with others can help to avoid procrastination and break up the monotony of spending hours revising alone. You can book one of our discussion rooms for a study group via our online form here.

A photo of library users using the discussion room

photo (c) John Cairns

Enjoy the fresh air outside on the picnic benches

Time outside in the fresh air is proven to increase creativity, aid concentration, and boost your mood. Getting outside and away from the library environment can help to clear the head and get a fresh perspective. The Manor Road Building now has picnic benches situated outside under cover, so you can take a break in the fresh air in all weathers. You can also visit the University Parks if you’re looking to take a slightly longer break, as they are only a 5 minute walk away from us here at the SSL.

A photo of the picnic benches out the front of the Manor Road Building

 

Stay hydrated – visit the cafe upstairs for drinks, snacks and hot meals

Drinking plenty of water while studying helps to avoid headaches and maintain good health. You can bring bottled water into the SSL, and any other drinks must be contained in a Keep Cup. We have a water fountain available outside in the main foyer of the Manor Road Building where you can refill your bottle also. Eating regularly is important too, so why not visit the Manor Road Cafe upstairs where you can buy snacks, drinks and hot meals? It’s open from 8am-3pm, and outside of those times coffee, cold drinks and a selection of snacks are available to buy from the vending machines opposite too.

An image of the Manor Road Cafe. There is a slogan, "First things first, coffee", printed onto the left wall and seating on the right.

Make plans to do something you enjoy after studying

Having plans to look forward to after a long session at the library can help you to relax and switch off after an intense day of studying. It’s also motivating throughout the day to have a goal to work towards! Making plans with a friend or buying tickets to a new film in advance can help to ensure that you’ll definitely take that much needed rest away from studying.

A photo of a reel of tickets

Access the University Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service is there to support all students at the university, working with 11-12% of the student population each year. With individual counselling sessions, group sessions and workshops, there are a variety of ways to access the service however would be most beneficial to you. Talking to a professional about your mental health, worries or problems can be important for wellbeing at university, and with appointments available both online and in-person, the service is more accessible than ever this year.

A photo of two people talking whilst sat in comfy seats

Peer Support Programme

The Peer Support Programme at Oxford is a first-step/early intervention structure that deals with mild mental health needs. Trained students act as Peer Supporters, facilitating conversations about mental health and sharing their own experiences, as well as allowing for mutual support through challenges. This offers social support whilst fighting the stigma and encouraging empathy around mental health issues. Additionally, there are also Peers of Colour and Rainbow Peers who identify as people of colour or LGBTQ+ respectively. They have undergone further training and you can reach out to them if it would be helpful to talk about issues relating to race/racism and sexuality/gender.

A photo of 3 students chatting together whilst sat on the grass amongst trees

Free access for Oxford University Students to Togetherall

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact this has had on our mental health and the student experience at Oxford, the university has expanded its welfare services to include Togetherall, a free service for all Oxford students giving you access to a global welfare community 24/7. It is a safe online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing. Millions of people in the UK have access via their participating employer, university, college, NHS provider or local council.

An image of the togetherall logo - black rounded text with a yellow and green set of speech marksServices external to the university

There are various local and national organisations that can provide support to you whilst you’re at Oxford too.

Nightline – a completely independent listening, support and information service run for and by students of Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities. The line runs from 8pm-8am Monday to Sunday, 0th week to 9th week during Oxford University term time. (01865270270)

Students Against Depression – self-help resources and signposting specifically for student mental health issues.

Oxford SU Student Advice Service – an independent advice and information service for Oxford University students. The service offers a space for you to talk in confidence and information on a range of issues you might encounter during your time at Oxford.

Samaritans – a crisis line run 24/7 for anyone who’s struggling to cope or who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Call 116 123 anytime to talk through anything from study-related stress, bereavement to mental health problems, or anything else you may need a neutral ear for.An image of someone sat in front of a laptop. They are holding their phone and have pink painted nails.

18-24 May 2020 is Mental Health Awareness Week

The SSL supports Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020)

Oxford University is committed to the Mental Health and Wellbeing of all their students and there are a number of services available which provide support.

Advice is available from your college, department, central University services, fellow students and the Student Union.

Whilst the Student Welfare and Support Services building is closed, you can still access support online.

Here are some of our Top Tips for how to look after your mental health while you have to stay at home, inspired by the Mental Health Foundation webpage.

1. Plan your Day

Maintain your routine. Adjusting to this ‘new’ way of life can be difficult. Try to maintain your routine. Rise at the same time each day, get dressed, have breakfast, and set aside time each day for movement, relaxation, connection and reflection.

2. Move more every day

Exercise is proven to improve your mood through the release of endorphins, helping to relieve stress. Something as simple as a walk can help to stimulate your brain, allowing you to study far more effectively.

Even at home, there are lots of ways to exercise and keep your body moving. Active Cumbria and Sport England have both compiled a page of exercise tips, videos and resources to keep you active as part of their #StayInWorkout campaign. A Weight off your Mind has lots of useful information about exercising, eating healthy and keeping fit.

3. Try a relaxation technique

Relaxing and focusing on the present can help improve your mental health and lighten negative feelings.

Try some different meditation or breathing exercises to see what helps. Progressive muscle relaxation teaches you to recognise when you are starting to get tense and how to relax.

There are a range of relaxation techniques available from the NHS.

4. Connect with others

Staying at home, especially if you live on your own, can feel lonely. Explore ways of connecting that work for you, whether that’s by post, over the phone, social media, or video-chat.

 

Coordinating breaks with your friends allows for social interaction which will break your own internal monologue and give you a chance to relax and focus on something outside of work.

5. Keep Occupied, but Make Time for Yourself.

Staying at home can seem overwhelming and sometimes filling time can be tricky. However, here are so many ways that you can stay occupied.

MIND have a useful page of information with lots of ideas on how to fill your time and Chatter Pack has a list of free, online, boredom-busting resources for ideas.

It is also important to know that it is ok to not be productive all the time. Resting helps to refresh the mind.

Unwinding and relaxing by doing the things you love like watching TV or reading a book can allow you to come back to your everyday life with a clearer mindset.

 

There are numerous e-books available on SOLO and you can access TV shows using your SSO login on BOB.

6. Improve your sleep

Feelings of uncertainty and changes to daily life may mean you have more difficulty sleeping.

Try to allocate 7-8 hours of rest per night. Allow an hour to wind down before bed and turn off screens. Blue light is activating and wakes up your brain.

A range of tips for improving sleep can be found on the Mental Health Foundation and NHS websites.

7. Ask for Help

Talking to someone or asking for help is a strong thing to do – it means you are taking control of a problem and your life.

Whatever is happening, the best way to make sure it doesn’t overtake your life and weigh you down is to talk to someone and get the support you need.

Getting help, helps you to manage the problem as quickly as possible. There are plenty of places to go to for help, including:

Every Life Matters

Mental Health Foundation

MIND

NHS

Wellbeing at Oxford

What do you do to improve your mental wellbeing? Share your TopTips with us!

5 March is University Mental Health Day

The SSL supports University Mental Health Day (Thursday 5 March)

Oxford University is committed to the Mental Health and Wellbeing of all their students.There are a number of services available which provide support to readers during their studies at the University. Advice is available from your college, department, central University services, fellow students and the Student Union.

Here are some of our Top Tips for how to improve your mental wellbeing.

TopTip 1: READ

Did you know that the Bodleian Libraries has a selection of reading lists specific for Student Wellbeing?

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Mental Health

Reading Well Books on Prescription helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using self-help reading.

The books are chosen by health experts and people living with the conditions covered. People can be recommended a title by a health professional, or they can visit their local library and take a book out for free.

Reading Well Mood-Boosting Books

Reading Well Mood-Boosting Books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction. The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups.

Why not have a look and pick a book to read?

TopTip 2: TAKE A BREAK

Here at the SSL we would like to encourage all our readers to take regular breaks and study in healthy balance and moderation. Our Take a Break Blog Post highlights in greater detail all the ways readers can take regular breaks, including:

Walking

A walk can help to stimulate your brain, allowing you to study far more effectively. Exercise is proven to improve your mood through the release of endorphins, helping to relieve stress.

Food & Drink

Studying while hungry or dehydrated can make it much more difficult to focus and process information.

TopTip 3: CHANGE LOCATIONS

Changing Seats & Library Hopping

Working at the same desk on the same seat all day can sometimes hinder effective study.

You’d be surprised how physical perception can affect your perspective on work. Even something as simple as moving to a different desk, or seat, can help!

Or why not use your break to travel to a new library? Library hopping is a great way to break up your work and refresh your mind with a new location.

TopTip 4: SOCIALISE

 

Coordinating breaks with your friends allows for social interaction which will break your own internal monologue and give you a chance to relax and focus on something outside of work.

TopTip 5: ASK FOR HELP

Talking to someone or asking for help is a strong thing to do – it means you are taking control of a problem and your life.

Whatever is happening, the best way to make sure it doesn’t overtake your life and weigh you down is to talk to someone and get the support you need.

Talking to someone or getting help for a mental health problem does not necessarily mean medication or counselling. There are all kinds of treatment for different conditions and there are often choices to discuss to see what will work best and most simply for you.

Getting help, helps you to manage the problem as quickly as possible. There are plenty of places to go to for help, including:

Sources of Help in Oxford

Sources of Online Help

What do you do to improve your mental wellbeing? Share your TopTips with us!

Take a Break

Here at the SSL we would like to encourage all readers to take regular breaks and study in healthy balance and moderation.

Here are our top tips for taking a break!

WALK

A walk can help to stimulate your brain, allowing you to study far more effectively. Exercise is proven to improve your mood through the release of endorphins, helping to relieve stress.

The SSL is surrounded by so many green spaces.

From the University Parks, to the Magdalen College Deer Park, to even Holywell Cemetery, there are plenty of nearby green spaces to explore!

We’ve created a map of our favourite lunchtime walks.

Feel free to pick up a map and discover somewhere new during your break.

Or why not recommend your favourite walk to us?

CHANGE SEATS

Working at the same desk on the same seat all day can sometimes hinder effective study, so why not switch it up? You’d be surprised how physical perception can affect your perspective on work. Even something as simple as moving to a different desk, or seat, can help!

There are a variety of different study spaces in the SSL.

Why not try the comfy seating area, located to the right of the Issue Desk?

Or why not use your break to travel to a new library? Library hopping is a great way to break up your work and refresh your mind with a new location.

 

Coordinating breaks with your friends allows for social interaction which will break your own internal monologue and give you a chance to relax and focus on something outside of work.

If you want to chat with your friends and not leave the Manor Road Building, why not use the Manor Road Common Room, located on the first floor just past the Manor Road Cafe?

You can even eat in the Common Room.

FOOD & DRINK

Studying while hungry or dehydrated can make it much more difficult to focus and process information. Luckily there are spaces nearby to eat and drink.

Manor Road Café 

Open Monday to Friday 8:00-17:00

Missing Bean Café

(St Cross Building) 

Open Monday to Friday 8:00-16:00

Don’t forget if you use your KeepCup you can bring your drink into the library!

How do you take breaks? Give us your suggestions!

Welfare and Wellbeing

At Oxford we are committed to the mental health and wellbeing of all our students.There are a number of services available which provide support to readers during their studies at the University. Advice is available from your college, department, central University services, fellow students and the Student Union.

Click here to find out more about the support available.