Why Sleep Might Be the Study Tool You’re Ignoring
Were you looking for a justification for sleeping more? Public health student Fiyo, on placement with BetterU, might have the research you need, on the critical […]
Research Digest
Gratitude Journaling: A Small Habit for Reclaiming Your Attention from Stre...
Jacob, a Social Work student on placement with BetterU, kicks off 2026 student content with this great piece on gratitude journalling. I’m stoked to have student […]
The Light I Didn't Know I Needed: What Years of Research Taught Me About My...
Soon-to-be Postdoctoral Researcher, Malisa Burge explores why your mood might not just be about stress or study, it might be about whether your light patterns are […]
So you have some leisure time - how should you use it?
You didn’t think I’d stop telling you how to live your life just because you are on a break did you? I’ve been meaning to write […]
Why Your Study Playlist Matters: What the Research Actually Shows 🎵
Public health student Fiyo, on placement with BetterU, explores whether your study playlist helps or hinders learning and why silence might be your secret weapon. Also […]
The wellbeing benefits of grounding practices
Oasis Chaplain Christy Overton explores some of the simple ways we can ground ourselves during times of overwhelm, stress or fatigue. I recently came across an […]
How to Get Closer to the Truth: Using AI to Understand Health Research
Cut through the hype by using AI and the right questions to get closer to what health research actually says. Despite my training, I still get […]
🌏 Caring for the Planet and Ourselves
Climate distress is a rational response to an irrational situation, and through connection, care, and collective action, we can turn overwhelm into momentum. Climate Week is […]
Is a simpler life a wellbeing hack?
Choosing a simpler life through decluttering, mindful spending, and valuing experiences over things could quietly unlock more freedom, happiness, and mental space. Admittedly, I spend a […]
Cool People, Good People, and the Pursuit of Status
What makes someone cool or good might just reveal that there’s more than one way to earn status in a world that values both rebellion and […]
Like Lo-fi & Late Nights: The Perfect Study Combo
Want to actually remember what you study? Combine retrieval practice with spaced repetition for a powerful, brain-friendly learning boost. Not to get overly religious but let […]
What is a micro-act of wellbeing?
Small actions, big impact: discover how tiny daily habits can boost your wellbeing in just one week. I’ve been spending more time in the literature recently, […]
Brain Boosters Revisited: What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t)
A reflection on recent research into brain-boosting supplements, revisiting past scepticism and highlighting why I think lifestyle foundations still matter most. Back in 2019, I wrote […]
Procrastinating? There’s an App for That (Actually, Five Kinds)
Explore five types of procrastination apps, each offering a different psychological approach to help you get started, stay focused, and feel better about study. You might […]
Can the Right Kind of Noise Help You Focus?
Could the right background noise be a useful tool for better focus? A new study suggests it might help—especially for students with ADHD. I recently […]
10 Daily Practices That Support Wellbeing and Academic Success
Exploring what research tells us might be small daily habits that make a difference to student wellbeing and academic success. Over the past few months, I’ve […]
Flourishing Around the World — And What It Means for You
What does it mean to truly flourish — and how can students invest in their wellbeing in ways that actually work? What makes a life go […]
Halfway through Semester 1 - How's Your Uni Experience Stacking Up?
The UAC Student Lifestyle and Learning Report 2025 reveals a generation of students driven by passion yet navigating significant challenges related to finances, mental health, and […]
Smartphone addiction and procrastination
This recently went out to those subscribed to the Procrastination Mailing List. I thought it was probably good for the blog as well. If you want […]
I interviewed the World Happiness Report
Ever wondered what would happen if you could interview a report? In this playful exploration, we ask the World Happiness Report all the questions you’d want […]
Be a more 'strategic' student, infographic edition
I recently wrote a post about how and why to be a more ‘strategic’ student. But if you prefer your information in infographic form, well I […]
The argument for being a more 'strategic', rather than 'dedicated' student
Embracing a strategic approach to learning may be a key to balancing academic success and wellbeing. Yesterday, I attended the HERGA 2024 conference (https://herga.com.au/conference-2024/), where the […]
Positive long-term improvements in mental health require long-term habit ch...
I take a look at some research by Hobbs, Jelbert, Santos, and Hood (2024) that finds that the benefits of happiness courses are only maintained when […]
Should you start using a mindfulness app?
In the realm of mental health, reaching those who need it can be challenging, with many individuals not seeking professional help. To address this, mobile apps […]