Saving water cuts carbon

The water you use to cook, clean and keep warm takes energy to treat, transport and heat – the more you save, the lower your carbon footprint will be. Wait for a full load before running your washing machine.

For more simple tips on how to save, visit: southernwater.co.uk/save

Now that the summer months are coming around you should try and take advantage of the good weather and move your studying outside while you can. Research has shown that there are bene ts to both learning and studying outside amongst nature, but as the weather is constantly uctuating you’ll need to move quick. If you’re not convinced yet, check out these 5 bene ts of studying outside.

When you’re feeling lethargic studying outside can be a great way to refresh yourself and give you the energy you need to keep going. Not only are you giving yourself a change of scene and some fresh air, but studies have shown that spending 20 minutes outside can have the same e ects as drinking a cup of co ee. Studying outside can revitalise you so you are able to continue working with the same level of enthusiasm you had when you started, rather than gradually teetering o until you run out of energy.

It has been shown that being out in nature can reduce cortisol levels by up to 12%. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that helps regulate our bodies’ stress levels (which is why it is known as the Stress Hormone). High levels of cortisol can increase feelings of stress and anxiety as well as cause other medical problems. Studying can obviously be very stressful, so you want to do everything you can to create a relaxing and calm environment for you to work in, so you aren’t needlessly increasing your stress levels. Studying outside is a great start to creating the perfect environment, being surrounded by the quiet sounds of nature and the feeling of the sun’s rays or a summer breeze exudes calm.

The sun is a crucial natural source of vitamin D for our bodies, by studying outside you increase your exposure to the sun and increase your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is known to improve people’s moods, making studying more enjoyable and therefore easier. According to studies, people’s moods improved by 20% after going for a walk or being in nature, so even if you can’t or don’t want to do your studying outside use your study breaks to go on a quick walk and absorb all that precious vitamin D and make yourself feel better.

Studies have shown that being in nature can make you up to 60% more creative and improve your problem-solving skills. This is thought to be because the natural environment allows you to think outside the box, so you are able to come up with more creative solutions. This is particularly useful when you are studying creative or subjective subjects that have no clear answer and instead revolve around your interpretation of the topic.

This may not be the case for everyone, but for those of you who live with your families or have housemates studying outside can be really helpful. It’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the house and have some time to yourself, so you can give your undivided attention to your work. Being able to focus better will improve the quality of your work and should help you improve your grades, as your work re ects your full ability rather than what you are able to do when you are surrounded by distractions.