Life Tools | Support and Wellbeing | University of Reading

Our Life Tools programme is designed by experts to facilitate your transition into university and enhance your student experience. It allows you to be proactive and take control of your learning and development. The programme is designed specially to contribute to your ongoing professional development.

This year we will continue to provide our talks as webinars, and there will also be some delivered on campus where possible. They are about 50 minutes in duration, including time for questions about the topic. The programme is free and open to all students, with no need to book. More information is available in the new Life Tools programme guide 2020/21.

To find out more about the programme, listen to the Introduction to the Life Tools webinar, or watch the video at the bottom of this page.

Important update

As the country and the university are making changes so that we can adjust to the current situation, you may be wondering how to keep well and how best to manage your studies over the coming weeks. As such, weekly emails will be sent via Life Tools on Blackboard, including strategies to manage studies while studying independently.

It is also important to keep active and engage in activities that you find rewarding.If you are concerned about yourself or another student, you can speak to Counselling and Wellbeing service, or the Welfare Service. Fortunately, we have the technology that allows us to maintain contact so we can continue to work together. Keep well and continue learning.

To receive updates, enrol on the Life Tools Blackboard.

New system to attend the webinars

New system to join the webinars:

The details of the webinars will be on the Life Tools page on Essentials.

There will be a link that will take you to a page where you can book a place on the webinar.

Then, on the day of the webinar, we will send you an email with the link that will take you directly to the webinar on Blackboard.

If you have any problems finding the link you can email me: m.a.penabizama@reading.ac.uk.

Webinars coming up:

Group discussion: Managing feedback (PhD students)	4 May	11:00-12:00	To join, go to the Graduate School Blackboard course and select the module "Keep fit for your studies/group discussion". In the module look for Blackboard collaborate, then select the session "Group discussion: Managing feedback". If you have any difficulties, you can email me: If you have any difficulties, you can email me: m.a.penabizama@reading.ac.uk
Bouncing back from setbacks (resilience)	5 May	13:00-14:00	Book a place The form closes at 09.30 on the day of the webinar. You can still join the webinar by going to the Life Tools module on Blackboard
A good night’s sleep	5 May	15:00-16:00	Book a place The form closes at 09.30 on the day of the webinar. You can still join the webinar by going to the Life Tools module on Blackboard
Jump-starting your brain (procrastination)	6 May	13:00-14:00	Book a place The form closes at 09.30 on the day of the webinar. You can still join the webinar by going to the Life Tools module on Blackboard
Group training/discussion	6 May	15:00-16:00	Book a place The form closes at 09.30 on the day of the webinar. You can still join the webinar by going to the Life Tools module on Blackboard

Life Tools blog post: Benefits of self-awareness: increase emotional intelligence and wellbeing

The Life Tools programme, one year on…blog

How do I enrol on the Life Tools Certificate programme?

Life Tools Certificate

The Life Tools certificate is a new opportunity available from this academic year, and will be recognised in the same way as the RED Award. The aim of the course is to provide some structure so that you can maintain your motivation and feel productive by developing habits that support your progress towards your academic and personal goals.

'The ‘Life Tools’ certification is a wonderful opportunity for all students across campus looking to develop self-awareness and learn new ways of thinking and feeling, that will impact their overall well-being. With numerous modules that touch upon a variety of topics, the program enhances confidence, motivation, resilience and teaches one to introspect, all necessary skills for an optimistic and healthy life.' - Student

To obtain the Life Tools certificate, you must:

Attend 6 presentations. Your department may be offering some of the presentations as part of your course. Attending these will count towards the certificate too. To make the most of the programme, begin to apply the knowledge and strategies as soon as you have been to a presentation so that you can identify what works for you.
Complete 6 modules on the Blackboard course. Each module has a screencast with a summary of the topics covered in the presentation. There is also a worksheet so that you can reflect on your learning, and practice applying the strategies.
Attend 2 group training sessions. This element of the programme gives you the opportunity to discuss what you have found when applying the knowledge and strategies. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers. The focus of the discussion will be on identifying what helps or hinders applying what you are learning, as well as having an opportunity to expand on your interest in the topics.
Write a reflective piece (about 2 sides of A4). The purpose of this exercise is to reflect on what you have learned , your experience of applying the knowledge and strategies in a more consistent manner, and how you plan to take your learning experience into the future.

How to use Life Tools towards the Red Award and Life Tools certificate

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See what Life Tools talks are coming up