Wellbeing for Doctoral Candidates

Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care is a safe, confidential and free service that supports the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone at University of Auckland. The University also has many other avenues if you are seeking help and personal support.

Hiwa, the University's new recreation centre in Symonds Street, is open from 6am to 10pm on weekdays and from 7am to 7pm on weekends. Why not go along and try out a class? There's something for everyone: yoga, dancefit, karate, pilates, swimming, squash, aqua zumba, boxfit and many more. Plus there's a really great coffee shop! 

Learn more about what's on offer at the Hiwa Recreation Centre, and discover how the Actively Well programme can help you.

Get motivated to change your life for the better by listening to our series of bite-sized videos by Desiree Dickerson.

Desiree is a former neuroscience postdoctoral researcher and clinical psychologist who believes that a healthier approach to research is possible and supports positive change in those striving to perform well in the high pressure world of academia.

Her six-minute talks will help you thrive by giving you insights into the foundations for mental space and energy (sleep, nutrition, exercise, socialising, and relaxation), as well as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, productivity, procrastination, inner critic, process vs goal, and filling your bucket. 

For starters, Desiree's advice is that if you can only change only thing in your life, it should be sleep: "Prioritising your sleep is the greatest gift you can give your wellbeing," she says.

Watch Desiree's video clips now.

Watch doctoral candidates Yan Xie (Faculty of Arts and Education) and Rox-Anne L'Italien-Bruneau (Faculty of Science) share their thoughts and ideas about wellbeing.