The library Postgraduate Study Suite is open again and available to anyone studying at Master’s level and above. The only change from before the pandemic is that we have had to suggest limits to the number of occupants in each room to ensure the ventilation remains sufficient to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

One of the secrets to a successful life is developing the practice of asking of each thing, “Is this important? What would happen if I did not do it?”. This practice is the single biggest secret to making the best use of your time. It enables you to prioritise your life meaningfully by stopping doing those things that make little or no difference and focusing on those things that will. It declutters life and protects against that ever present threat of becoming overwhelmed.

What’s stopping you from getting started? Do you start your day anxious and struggle to limber up, focus, and get going? Does your workload feel like an unstructured edifice that threatens to collapse and crush you?

It might surprise you to learn that a more chilled, relaxed, happy and in-control you might be a simple habit change away and it all starts with how you start your day and structure your time to stay calm and achieve a productive flow. It’s never too late to start a good habit, so try it today!

The uniformity of instruction you probably received in school concealed the important truth that everyone learns differently and that you need to experiment, try new ways of working, and decide there and then whether they feel good or bad or if you are unsure. There are now many tools that can help you learn in new and creative ways and library staff can provide specific support for anyone who has difficulty engaging with text-based resources to learn more easily.

There are so many so-called special days now in our calendar (from Winnie the Pooh Day to National Answer your Cat’s Question Day – really?), you might be forgiven having missed this one. 11.1 or 11th of January is World …

‘Sketchnote Day’ – did this pass you by? Read more »

Sage and John Smith’s have partnered up to offer a short series of hour-long expert talks on ways to get the most from your time at university. How to think for yourself What does it mean these days to read, …

Online expert talks: original thinking and safeguarding your wellbeing Read more »

Macmillan Publishers are offering a series of free study skills webinars in support of their academic writing book series. The webinars last one hour each and cover reflective journaling, essay writing, and goal setting, motivation and overcoming procrastination. They run …

Wednesday study skills webinars Read more »

Until now, students on taught courses could produce the most impressive research and interactive artefacts but because the scope of an undergraduate or Masters degree project rarely allows a project of sufficient scope and depth of analysis to compete with …

The rise of RISE: the new online home for student research Read more »

Did you know you can get scanned book chapters emailed to you and books posted to your home address? You can also pick up books you’ve requested at the same time as your B&W printing from the entrance area. Check …

Ways your library is making home study easier Read more »

It is important to structure your study time to get the most from the hours you invest.  One of the most effective methods is known as the Pomodoro Method (from the Italian for ‘tomato’).  The inventor discovered that using his …

Study well: a whistle stop tour from tomato timers to workplace ergonomics Read more »