Reading is , many of whom are actively seeking alternatives to  and the mental fatigue associated with constant social media use.

In North America, an estimated , averaging 3.5 to 4.5 books per year, with a preference for physical books. Younger readers are also more likely to purchase books in a bookstore and , which is notable in an era dominated by digital media.

The post New article posted in The Conversation by Dr. Pozzulo entitled, “Is reading your favourite hobby? A new era of book clubs is reshaping how we read” appeared first on Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub.

Prepared & Positive is a half-day forum designed for parents and caregivers navigating youth mental health. The event offers expert speakers, practical strategies, and connections to trusted local supports.

Saturday, April 18, 2026
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Saint Paul University, Ottawa
Free to attend

Register here:

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The post Why Sleep Matters and How to Improve It By Madelyn Cook appeared first on Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub.

Thriving Through Change: Adjusting to Life as a University Student

By Madelyn Cook

University is a time filled with major life transitions, whether it is moving away from home, meeting new people, managing academic expectations, or determining future career paths, we, as students, are overwhelmed with many changes all at once. While these transitions can be exciting and full of opportunity, from my experience, this is a time that can also feel stressful and demanding. Learning how to adapt to change is an important skill that helps students grow both academically and personally. Three key strategies that I found helped me adjust to life’s transitions during this challenging time were: building social support systems, creating a new routine and reframing how I viewed the transition itself.

Building a strong support system is a key factor for navigating transitions of any kind successfully. During times of change it’s easy to feel isolated or disconnected, especially for someone moving away from home like myself. Staying in touch with family, maintaining friendships and forming new connections on campus can make a significant difference in your mental health and the stability of change. Within the first few weeks of University, even though I was uncomfortable and nervous, I pushed myself to attend residence and greater campus events. What I found out is that they ultimately created a space for me to make connections with people I’m still friends with today in my fourth year! Through this, I created a foundation of people I could reach out to during stressful periods which made things feel more manageable and reminded me I was not alone.

I worked hard to develop a healthy routine; after some trial and error, that seemed to work best for me. Creating this balance allowed me to have a sense of control and created stability during times that felt uncertain and scary. With my new university schedule being less structured than in high school, I had to manage my time differently. I established habits like setting aside time for studying, building in physical activity regularly and ensuring that I got enough sleep (which was hard)! This helped with both my productivity and mental health. I also built in time for gratitude; in fact, I began a gratitude wall where every day I wrote one thing on a sticky note that I was grateful for and posted it on the wall in my room. Some days there were more things than others and some days gratitude was simply just the sun in the sky. My gratitude wall is something I have continued throughout my time at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ repeating each year. Establishing even these small routines provided me with a sense of control and predictability that helped me feel secure during this transition.

Practicing self-compassion during periods of stress can be challenging. Many of us place intense pressure on ourselves to perform academically while also balancing social lives, new responsibilities and personal challenges. I believe it is important to remember that no one can handle all transitions perfectly or be immune to the challenges or emotions that come with them. Mistakes, setbacks, and moments of doubt are all part of the learning process, and building resilience to become who you are meant to be individually. It is important to remember to be patient and kind with oneself and recognize personal growth to help reduce stress and build confidence.

Seeking help when everything feels too much is an essential part of adjusting. There are many amazing wellness services and resources on campus at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ including access to academic advisors, counseling services, tutoring programs and career guidance. I wish I had taken advantage of these opportunities more often throughout my years at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´. These valuable supports allow students the chance to figure out the right direction with guidance. It is important to remember that asking for help isn’t weakness, but rather a commitment to learning and evolving.

Maintaining a true sense of perspective can help navigate transitions with ease. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I turn to my support system. My mom still encourages me to think of university in small pieces: in the whole scheme of life, every test, every assignment, and every day are all brief parts in a much larger life journey. While certain challenges may feel overwhelming in the moment, many of them will eventually become valuable learning experiences. Staying open to growth, building supportive relationships, and caring for your well-being can turn life transitions into amazing opportunities for personal development.

Adjusting to change is rarely an easy task; although, it is a meaningful part of the university experience. Through patience, support and self-awareness, you can not only survive these transitions but you can thrive through them. I will leave you with something else my mom always says to me when I feel overwhelmed… “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

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What Really Helps People Reach Their Goals?

By Mike Sullivan

Teaser: You might be wrong about why you don’t reach your goals—it’s probably not your personality.

Have you ever noticed that you easily achieve some of your goals but fail miserably to make any progress on others? Or maybe it feels like you’re bad at achieving any goal you set? These feelings are common because most people struggle to achieve their goals.

We often assume that we’re the problem. “I never achieve what I set out to do because I’m lazy.” “I gave up on my goal to get straight A’s because I’m not very smart.” Thankfully, recent research from our lab shows these explanations matter much less than people think, and other factors like motivation and planning play much larger roles.

To find out what really helps people achieve their goals, our lab spent years systematically reviewing the scientific research. We collected all relevant studies (over 300!) and put them into a massive spreadsheet so we could identify common factors that help people achieve their goals. A few clear patterns emerged:

1. Many factors influence whether people achieve their goals—but most play pretty small roles.
2. Personality factors (e.g., how energetic, hardworking, and emotionally stable you are compared to other people) tend to matter much less than people think.
3. The kind of motivation you have for your goals is important. People are more likely to achieve goals that are personally meaningful, valuable, and enjoyable compared to goals they feel like they should or have to pursue.
4. The amount of effort you put into your goal makes a big difference. This may seem obvious, but it’s worth stating explicitly. You are far more likely to achieve your goals when you work consistently toward them.
5. Planning is underrated. If you are struggling with one of your goals, try using an if-then plan. For example, if you want to lift weights five times a week, your if-then plan could be: if I get home on a weekday before 6:00 PM, then I’ll immediately go to the gym.
6. It’s harder to achieve your goals if you’re not feeling well. Prioritizing rest and other healthy habits makes achieving your goals a lot more likely.   

So that’s it, a brief overview of what five years of research tells us will help people achieve their goals.

Next time you notice that you’re struggling with one of your goals, consider coming back to this list. Remember that even if you’re in a negative headspace, there’s a lot you can control. Ask yourself: is this really a goal I personally care about? Am I working hard enough to achieve it? When you stumble, try an if-then plan. And do your best to maintain healthy habits and a balanced life so you can put in a lot of effort to achieve your goal.

Good luck!

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Our very own Megan DeGroot was asked to speak about her research on a podcast! Listen here:

Read the publication here:

DeGroot, M., Archbell, K. A., & Coplan, R. J. (2025). Shy Like Me: Exploring Links Between Coaches’ Shyness and Beliefs ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Shy and Exuberant Children in a Team Sports Context. Journal of Sport and Social Issues.

The post MeWeRTH member Megan DeGroot featured on Podcast! appeared first on Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub.

When Money Becomes Part of Your Identity
By Isabella R. L. Bossom¹ & Sarah Enouy²

Why do some people tie their self-worth so closely to money? Personality may play an important role.

Most people care about their finances. Money affects where we live, the opportunities available to us, and how secure we feel. But for some people, financial success becomes central to their identity. This is called having a financially focused self-concept.

A financially focused self-concept can have consequences. People who strongly base their self-worth on money are more likely to engage in risky financial behaviours, such as gambling or hiding financial decisions from their partners.

Personality Traits

Some personality traits are more common among people who place a strong emphasis on money and status. Traits associated with the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) include tendencies such as manipulation, self-centeredness, and a lack of empathy.

People who score higher on these traits may be more likely to see wealth as a sign of power or success. As a result, financial success can become an important way of validating their self-worth. For example, people who are more manipulative, impulsive, or distrustful of others may place greater importance on money and status.

Narcissism may also influence how people relate to money. People high in grandiose narcissism often see themselves as superior and deserving of admiration. Wealth and status can reinforce this image. At the same time, people high in vulnerable narcissism may feel insecure and sensitive to criticism. For them, financial success may help provide reassurance or validation.

Another trait linked to financial focus is honesty-humility, which reflects sincerity, fairness, modesty, and a lack of interest in wealth and status. People who score lower on honesty-humility, especially those who value luxury, status, and personal gain, may be more likely to base their self-worth on money.

Valuing financial success is not necessarily a problem. However, when money becomes the main way someone judges their self-worth, it can narrow how they see themselves and what they value in life.

Why This Matters

Understanding the personality traits linked to a financially focused self-concept can help explain why some people develop an especially strong focus on money. It may also help explain why this mindset is sometimes connected to risky financial behaviours.

When financial success becomes only one part of a broader sense of identity, alongside relationships, personal values, and well-being, people may be less likely to experience distress when financial goals are not met.

For Further Reading

Bossom, I. R. L*., Enouy, S*., Blais, J., Wohl, M. J. A., Pruysers, S., & Tabri, N. (2026). Explaining unique and common variance in financially focused self-concept from Dark Triad and honesty-humility personality traits using commonality analyses. International Journal of Psychology, 61(2), e70196. 10.1002/ijop.70196.

¹Isabella is a former MeWeRTH student member (2020-2022) and was supported by a Mental Health and Well-Being Research Training Hub Grant (2021).

²Sarah is a current MeWeRTH student member.

*Isabella and Sarah share first authorship

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Solitude: Your Secret to Better Sleep

By Natasha Barrows

Loneliness keeps people awake at night, but chosen solitude? It might just be the quietest path to deeper sleep. The best sleep I’ve had in months didn’t come from perfect routines – it came from finally embracing evenings alone.

Student days are full: classes, group messages, constant notifications, assignments that never quite feel finished, part-time jobs, volunteering, and connecting with family and friends. By evening, my mind often stays in high gear, replaying the day or jumping ahead to tomorrow. I tried the standard sleep advice – no blue light, no late caffeine, phone on silent – but I’d still find myself in bed with thoughts circling or scrolling longer than intended. What’s made the biggest difference lately is something simpler: setting aside time for deliberate solitude before bed.

The research supports this observation. Loneliness is reliably linked to poorer sleep quality: longer time to fall asleep, more frequent awakenings, and feeling less restored even after a full night. Studies with university students show that loneliness elevates cortisol levels, increases bedtime rumination, and contributes to habits like delaying sleep with screens. Chosen solitude, by contrast, has the opposite effect. When it’s voluntary and peaceful, not isolation from rejection or avoidance, it reduces physiological arousal, quiets mental chatter, and helps the nervous system ease into rest. It creates a natural buffer against the day’s overstimulation.

From the solitude literature I’ve explored and from noticing my own patterns, peaceful alone time gives the brain a chance to step back from constant input. Social interactions, group chats, and pings keep attention directed outward and keep arousal elevated. A dedicated period of low-stimulation solitude allows that mental noise to settle, making it easier to transition to sleep without the usual struggle.

In my routine now, I aim to protect 30–45 minutes most evenings for quiet, device-free time. No texting, no background audio, no multitasking. I might read a few pages of a book, write a few thoughts in a notebook, or simply rest in the stillness. Nothing elaborate or goal-oriented; the purpose is to keep things minimal and free of social demands. That gentle buffer lets the day unwind. When I go to bed afterward, my mind feels less crowded, and sleep comes more readily – no more spiraling into racing thoughts.

Of course, it’s not perfect every night. If I skip those quiet evenings – late study sessions, watching late night hockey games – I notice the difference the next morning: more restlessness, heavier fatigue. But when I consistently make space for that solitude, my sleep feels deeper and more refreshing.

This isn’t about withdrawing from people. If alone time ever begins to feel isolating or draining rather than restorative, that’s a signal to reach out. The aim is balance: using chosen solitude as a practical way to protect rest and mental clarity, not as a means of avoiding connection.

These intentional pockets of quiet have become one of the most effective, understated ways I’ve found to improve my sleep. In a world that rarely pauses, giving myself permission to pause has made evenings more peaceful and mornings noticeably brighter.

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