Academic wellbeing
These pages offer lists of recommended resources on various themes, including books, websites, apps and more. They have been put together by members of the counselling service team: we hope they offer some useful suggestions. We have included a range of resources and, inevitably, you may find that some things are more helpful than others. Feedback is always welcome; the pages are updated on a regular basis.
A note on language: Sections are organised by theme to help you find your way to resources relevant to you. We recognise that there are many ways to describe and categorise mental health and emotional difficulties, identity and lived experience. As such, these themes are by no means definitive or exhaustive. We encourage you to explore the material here in order to find out what fits for you.
The University is not responsible for the content displayed on external links. We recommend that you seek advice from your GP if you have concerns about your mental health, or if you are experiencing a crisis please refer to our student help page for urgent support.
Read
Books
Overcoming Perfectionism - Roz Shafran, Sarah Egan and Tracey Wade (Bodleian e:book available)
The Clockwork Muse - Eviatar Zerubavel (Bodleian e:book available)
Writing Under Pressure - Sanford Kaye (Bodleian e:book available)
How to Pass Exams Without Anxiety - David Acres
How to Get a PhD: a handbook for students and their supervisors - Estelle Phillips and Derek Pugh (Bodleian e:book available)
Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done - Oliver Burkeman (Bodleian e:book available)
The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-free Play - Neil Fiore and Jeremy Tarcher (Bodleian e:book available)
The Perfection Trap - Thomas Curran
The Chimp Paradox - Prof Steve Peters (Bodleian e:book available)
The now habit at work : perform optimally, maintain focus, and ignite motivation in yourself and others - Neil Fiore (Bodleian e:book available)
The Thief of Time: Philosophical Essays on Procrastination - Chrisoula Andreou (Bodleian e:book available)
Articles
Understanding procrastination (article from a blog by clinical psychologist Dr Richard Gipps
Understanding mock exams at Oxford
Ten tips for looking after your mental health at Oxford - Oxford University Counselling Service
Understanding a sense of academic failure workbook - Emily Troscianko and Rachel Bray, Oxford University
Thinking about planning work and effective time management - Oxford University Counselling Service
Perfectionism: Friend or Foe? - Oxford University Counselling Service
Websites
Put Off Procrastinating (The Centre for Clinical Interventions)
Perfectionism in Perspective (The Centre for Clinical Interventions)
Find the Coaching in Criticism - Sheila Heen and Douglas Stone (Harvard Business Review)
The Wellbeing Thesis: An online resource for postgraduate research students to support wellbeing, learning and research.
A practical wellbeing guide for STEM postgraduate students (Charlie Waller Trust)
Watch
TEDTalks
Thomas Curran TED Talk on Perfectionism
Tim Urban TED Talk - Inside The Mind Of A Master Procrastinator
Listen
Our Mental Wellness Series organised by the Experimental Psychology Department at Oxford University
A series of talks and presentations developed by the Oxford University Counselling Service
Oxford University Careers Service Workbook and Podcasts on overcoming a sense of academic failure
The Imposter's Survival Guide - BBC
Podcasts and Guided Practice Sessions - Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Learn
Workshops
Workshops and Groups - University of Oxford
- Exam Anxiety
- Can't Work
- Stressed!
- Perfectionism - understanding it and strategies to manage it
- Reducing Digital Distraction with Dr Ulrik Lyngs
- Mindfulness For Stress & Anxiety
- Graduate Student Group for Dphil - by counsellor referral
- Self Compassion Group - by counsellor referral
Togetherall Courses
- Stop Procrastinating
Apps
The Pomodoro Technique - A time management method app
Forest - A focus for productivity app
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