External support for doctoral researchers

The Yellow Book contains a wealth of tools to help you manage your response to stress. Advice and tips from therapists and health practitioners, poetry, artworks, readings and music can help to take you on a journey to positive wellbeing.

A comprehensive resource created by the University of Derby, King's College London and Student Minds to support the doctoral ups and downs.

The Wellbeing When Writing project was run by the Graduate School at the University of Westminster during 2018-19. One of the many outcomes of the project is this useful booklet that contains a range of writing strategies that could ease anxiety associated with writing productivity (amongst other things!).

Vitae have a range of useful resources relating to wellbeing and mental health. Of note and free to access, is the one-hour Focus On Hangout on 'Wellbeing for researchers' featuring Dr Katryna Kalawsky (Loughborough Doctoral College and Organisational Development) and Dr Jo Gillman (Organisational Development), linked below.

Vitae's 9-episode podcast series that was created with the publisher Taylor & Francis is also insightful, with the ‘unspoken challenges of research life’ and ‘overcoming impostor syndrome’ (featuring Dr Katryna Kalawsky) especially relevant.

Mind is a mental health Charity. Their website contains a range of information for those needing support and wishing to support others.

This site provides advice on maintaining your mental wellbeing by looking for the little things that we can do to lift our mood or ease our anxiety. This includes a Mind Plan quiz to get a free plan with tailored tips, the option to sign up for anxiety-easing emails, some self-help CBT techniques and a 6-week programme to help with sleep.

Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in distress; they are here to listen 24 hours. 365 days a year. Call 116 123 for free or view other ways to get in touch.

To help keep you fit and healthy, Loughborough Sport are offering members of the Loughborough Family with a 60-day free trial of Les Mills On Demand.

Les Mills is a streaming service that provides hundreds of workout videos suitable for all fitness levels. The classes focus on strength, cardio, dance and flexibility (and much more!) and you can also access their workout plans and join their online community for that extra level of motivation.

If you have children, the service also has playlists with fitness classes suitable for young people aged between 4-16 years old.