Brain food on a budget

If you have read the other articles available on the Studyhomes online platform, you may have inferred that we pride ourselves in going beyond our services as student houses in Southampton. We have outlined a series of informative articles that may provide you with guidelines making your stay at Southampton student accommodations comfortable and give you an enriching and vigorous experience during your university life. In this article, we have discussed importance of nutrition for better neurological functions and enhanced performance and what you can do about it.

Why is healthy food important?

Although the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle cannot be denied, it is particularly important for students. As a student you may often be inclined to get food on the go or do binge eating at times and consume copious amounts of junk. While your active and strenuous routine may prevent you from gaining any extra weight, it does not necessarily mean that you are healthy from the inside and the food you are eating is doing you any good. When you are studying, you need your mental faculties in top shape so that you can perceive and process the information provided during the course of your education, memorize it and give a worthy output during exam time.It is a scientifically proven fact that when you provide your body and mind with a healthy and nutritious diet, it helps to improve your focus, increases your cognitive brain functions, improves your thinking patterns and promotes your problem solving abilities. It also enhances your memory and retention skills and therefore promotes healthy brain functioning.Hence, eating the right kind of food in order to stay healthy will help you in performing well and will enable you to accomplish your educationalobjectives.

Eating healthy while staying on a budget

When you are living in a shared housing arrangement, unlike the student hall accommodations, you are mostly responsible for managing your finances which entails paying your bills, purchasing groceries etc. This helps you to learn the skill of better financial management and helps improve your perceived value for money. While we understand that as a student it is important for you to survive on a specific budget, it is equally important that you invest in a lifestyle that will aid you in reaching your ultimate goal of excelling in your academics which are inevitably the determining factor for your career and professional goals in the future. Having said that, it is therefore pertinent that you give due importance to your diet and consume food that aids your brain and memory functions.

There is a common misconception that eating healthy is expensive and you can only get good quality nutritious meals if you spend lots of money. However this is not necessarily the case. Let us give you few tips that can help you to eat a healthy and balanced diet during your university life.

·         Plan your groceries- while time is of the essence during your student years, importance of healthy eating cannot be denied. In order to be careful about what you eat you need to focus on cautious purchasing habits. Make a list of food or grocery items that you feel will help you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can do bulk shopping as well which will help you save eventually and you can benefit from the bundle discount offers as well.

·         Make your food-you may often find yourself faced with a dilemma when you try to buy food on the go that is health friendly and nutritious. There may not be a lot of options when it comes to healthy readymade meals. You can prepare some meals for yourself. This way you will knows exactly what ingredients have gone in the making of that dish and you can keep a track of your micros and macros. As you know Studyhomes are residential facilities that individuals use as student houses in Southampton. They are proper multiple bedroom houses with well equipped kitchens where you have the independence to plan and prepare your meals as per your individual preferences. Therefore if you are living in our Southampton student accommodations you have autonomy over what you choose to eat and how you can go about preparing it if you wish to.

·         Plan your meals-as a student you may have very busy routines and may hardly get time to cook for yourself during the week or get up and go to get groceries or food that is not readily available junk. A good idea in this situation would be to plan batch cooking over the weekends. If your peers or housemates share the philosophy of healthy eating, you can team up with them and prepare meals for your week during your day off and freeze them for later use.

Economical brain food for the win

You may be wondering, what are my options? What exactly can I eat that is healthy as well as doesn’t cost me an arm or leg? Let us give you a few ideas about the kind of food when you are eating on a budget. Let us give you few ideas that you can work on and include in your diet to make it healthy and well balanced and basically food for your brain.

·         Food on the go; grab fruits or nuts- food on the go doesn’t necessarily have to be a candy bar or a pack of crisps. Fruit is always a good idea, for instance apples are not only good in taste, they are vitamin enriched, and eating a banana will provide you with potassium and good fiber content. Citrus fruits like oranges are rich in flavonoids that aid and enhance your memory. Similarly berries like raspberries are rich in antioxidants and anthocyanin that can improve your brain function.

Similarly nuts are packed with vitamin E and zinc that is beneficial for your brain. For instance a small bag of peanuts can keep you satiated for quite some time. They are pretty cheap and do not have the unhealthy calories like those crisps that are loaded with preservatives and chemicals.

·         Quick and easy breakfast ideas-

o   Eating peanut butter spread on a toast makes for a popular snack item. It is healthy and delicious and can be prepared quickly. On mornings when you are in a rush, it can make for a hearty and quick meal options.

o   Moreover, if you haven’t tried oatmeal yet, it is time you do so. Prepare overnight oats and put them in the fridge. All you have to do in the morning is grab your spoon and have it.

o   Similarly smoothies make for a fulfilling delicious breakfast. Just put a banana with a cup of milk and spoon of peanut butter in your blender and you have a delicious smoothie. Want to give it a little kick? Add a little coffee in your smoothie. Coffee too is rich in antioxidants that not only improves health but also reduces risk of diseases when it is taken in moderation

·         Eat your dairy and legumes- regular dairy products are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, which not only keep you full but may also satisfy your cravings. A small serving of greek yogurt with a few berries can satisfy your sweet tooth and make for a very healthy food item.In addition legumes like beans or lentils also serve to keep you full while not being too heavy on your packet. They are loaded with nutrients and fiber content.

·         Eggs – incorporating eggs in your diet can be the best thing you do for yourself. They are quick to prepare, easy to eat, cheap in price and are packed with health essential nutrients making them one of the top brain foods on a budget.

·         Chocolate- a piece of dark chocolate as a substitute to that candy bar that is loaded with sugar and preservatives, quickly serves to curb your chocolate cravings

·         Try salads when you can- a piece of celery or carrot with a little bit of hummus makes for a good meal item; it is rich in taste and economical as well. Your body will thank you for the vitamins from the vegetables and the protein from your hummus.

10 Student Living Hacks

The high school student life is so hard. Imagine when you go to University. Many responsibilities with your studies. There is no obligation from your parents. It is life-changing. A new phase to you discovers how is the Adult life. At the UNiversity you are studying for your future profession, then is a big decision that will be with you always. Then, how can you live this moment with less stress than people say? let’s check some of the best tips to study and enjoy graduation.

1.      Routine

Your brain is a tool from God. It is the best tool in the world. But every tool needs to be used. Then use your brain to educate than to help you with your studies. You can find a lot of texts saying when you train your brain you can create a good routine and learn more. If you wake up every day at 6 o’clock for a month after that you don’t need to turn on the Alarm anymore. if you create a good routine you will have time t do all the things the University can offer you. Some Southampton student’s accommodations have some option to insert in sert on your routine. Like the gym, Community spaces for presentations, and others.

2.      Money is good, but no

We know that you have money from the scholarship or part-time jobs or even from your parents. But when you are in the UNiversity, easily you can lose money. Then try to control everything. If you have difficulties with your money, take a paper and a pen, list all your needs from the Studyhomes (personal needs) to books (school supplies). If you can work with spreadsheets take your phone and make a list with prices and how much money you can spend with each one. On Spreadsheet you can get the total spends in a month. starting like this you will improve your budget and maybe you can spend your money with friends on the weekend. Take care! bring with you only the amount that you can spend. Because you can lose your control.

3.      Time

Organize your time. You can separate your day into activities. Between the classes, you don’t have much time to go to far places then separate all you will need during the day and take your breaks to study, do exercises, make an essay. If you work part-time, don’t forget to take all stuff you need to go to your job.  You can organize your bag the night before. the Cellphone is a thief of your time. put in the silence or turn it off when you are studying.

4.      The system is not your enemy

If you have problems with the teachers or the superiors you have to solve them kindly or this maybe transforms into a future problem for you. Avoid discussing with the authority from the University. Good talks are better to solve problems. And you will have people that will help you in your future carrier.

5.      smart, no hard

if you have some difficulties studying, try to organize your thoughts. Using colorful pens can help you a lot. Or colored post-its. you can take notes on the post-it and after the class, you can organize your ideas in your notebook. You can try a Pomodoro technique. twice a week or organize one weekend to do it. Pomodoro is intense work with little breaks during the day. You can find more on the internet.

6.      Using the kitchen smarter

Students’ houses in Southampton have a shared kitchen.  You are a student. You don’t have time to waste. Then how can you solve the big line in front of the microwave oven? Simply don’t waste space. If you have two things to heat you can put the first on the oven, after taking a mug or a cup and turn down on the place, and put the second plate above the mug. The same you can do on the refrigerator, you can buy some containers that have three or more parts to put the things together.

7.      Friendship

Make friends. This looks like a cliche, but it isn’t. Friends are essential for academic life. Obviously, you can’t consider everybody as a friend, but one or three friends can help you to hold on to the problems. Friends are the people that you will carry for the rest of your life. during the graduation and after. When you get a real friendship from the University you will see. They will help you to discharge a stressful life. Or help you with a project even if they’re from a different course. Or help you to find a studyhome to live in.

8.      Are you right?

When you apply to the University you choose one carrier, are you sure about that? Think again, is this your dream or from others? Remember when you choose the wrong profession you can suffer in the future. Don’t worry about money because you are doing a course that the people say is not good. When you are a good professional you can earn more money than the courses that the people think are better.

9.      Be healthy

hamburger, french fries, steaks are the food that many students like to eat. because they are fast. But if you have to eat and during the day you don’t have time you can make your own food one day before, remember about plan your day. Then, if you know that the next day you won’t be able to go to a restaurant to eat, make your food at night, and choose healthy food. Your brain will thank you.

10.  You

Nothing will work if you are in a bad mood. When you feel tired or depressed you can look for help in the university. Don’t be afraid, you are the best of yourself. When your friend has any problem you are there to help. Ask help. Don’t be shy. you deserve to be happy, even if you need a psicologist. When the brain is working good your life will be the best.

Here are some hacks to you read and read and do. Take the action of your life, or the life will take you. When you don’t have goals, everywhere in the way. Then be focused and study hard. Your future is there.

Getting Around Southampton University

Southampton University is an extraordinary place to study a variety of different subjects. And the best part about it is that it’s ranked among top 100 universities worldwide. Attending their courses is very helpful and you can start creating an incredible career this way. But you have to wonder, once you pick the best student accommodation Southampton, how can you get around the city properly? Here are some tips to focus on.

Public transportation

If you want to visit the city, get to the university fast or just commute from your student houses Southampton to the university, it makes sense to choose public transportation. This is one of the least expensive transportation methods in the city and you can still get to the desired destination without any worries. It’s incredibly helpful and rewarding, so give it a shot if possible.

Bike

Riding a bike in Southampton can be a bit tricky, due to the way roads are created here. Some open roads are very inviting for bike owners, but there are also roads with twists and turns. If you live far from the Southampton University, it makes sense to use a bike. You can easily park it at the university too. But if your student accommodation Southampton is close to the university, then walking is a much better option. Of course, if you’re looking to explore the city or go outside Southampton on a joy ride then yes, it makes sense to use a bike for daily transportation.

Car

Cars are by far some of the best when it comes to getting around in Southampton. While it can take a little bit to find the best roads to take to your destination, once you know the city well you will find cars to be a very good transportation method. You can start walking at first as you explore the city and learn it more and more. Once you are confident that you know the routes, you can easily drive to the university or anywhere you want. You can get past this issue if you buy a GPS unit, as that will help you find the destination with ease.

Walking

Another way to get around in Southampton is walking. No matter where your Southampton university accommodation is found, you can still get around with ease if you walk to the university. Granted, if you’re far from the university a bike, car or public transportation might be better. But walking is just as good, and it helps you discover the city at your own pace.

In the end, there are lots of different ways to get around Southampton and reach the university. You can walk, use a bike, public transportation or just walk. Take your time, avoid any rush and see what suits your needs the most. In the end you will be quite happy with the results. Plus, you will learn the location of every lab or faculty as you go along, there’s no need to know everything right away. You can safely walk and learn all these things, then use vehicles only when you are confident about every location!

Life Outside Lectures.

Once you find the best student accommodation Southampton and start attending lectures, you should also create a good daily schedule. While learning and attending lectures is exciting, you also need to find some activities that will eliminate boredom. That’s what you want to focus on here, finding a way to make the most out of your time. here are some great activities you can check out.

Browse the town and check out all types of events

Most Southampton university accommodation are close to the university and that means you will be around the middle of the city. There are lots of things to see in Southampton, such as historical locations, museums, art galleries and so on. Browsing the city and exploring it will be a great idea. It helps you learn more about Southampton, not to mention you can take some time off from studying.

Start working out

Staying in great shape is important, as it will help boost your energy levels and that’s always important. We recommend you to find a gym right near your student housing Southampton, as it will help you quite a lot if you want to stay healthy and fit in the long run.

Go out with friends

You can start hanging out with the student accommodation Southampton housemate at first. And then you can gradually make new friends. Hanging out with people, making connections and lifetime friendships is what student life is all about. You don’t have to go drinking, there are coffee shops and all kinds of places you can hang out at.

Studying new skills online

If you are tired of the same old lectures, but you still want to acquire new skills, you can watch YouTube tutorials, read some books or check out various online classes. It helps quite a lot as you spend your time wisely in the student houses Southampton. It makes a lot of sense and you should give it a shot, especially if it’s rainy outside and you’re looking to learn something!

Playing videogames

While Southampton student accommodation life can be sedentary, it doesn’t have to be boring. If the weather is bad or you just don’t want to go outside, playing videogames helps a lot. It helps you connect with new people, and you can improve your focus, attention span and other skills too.

Enjoying sports with friends

If you’re an outdoorsy person, you can find other people from student lettings Southampton and create a football, handball or volleyball team. Then you can go to the court and start playing. It helps a lot if you want to stay in shape and have fun outside.

As you can see, it’s easy to find great activities as long as you picked the best private student accommodation Southampton. Of course, this is just a starting point, you just have to pick what option suits your needs the most. Don’t rush, instead pick activities you like and you will cherish these experiences a lot.

Living with Friends. Picking Your Next Housemate!

It’s safe to say that most student accommodation Southampton tends to be expensive, especially for a student that doesn’t have any workplace yet. Which is why it’s very important to try and find the right housemate. This is where things are a bit complex, because every person is different and they have a different perspective. With that in mind, here are some of the top qualities you need to look for when it comes to any Southampton university accommodation housemate.

Trust

You should always try to find people that you can trust. These persons can always be relied on, and they can take care of your stuff or any other products without any hassle. All you have to do is to make the right pick and the results can be amazing every time.

Cooperation

There will always be challenges that appear in student houses Southampton. It can be related to a home repair, it might be related to expenses and a variety of other things. A cooperative housemate will make your life a lot easier. And again, you will be able to trust him/her a lot faster than other people which is always very helpful.

Patience

Patient people will always be a great housemate, especially when it comes to living in Southampton student houses. They tend to have great ideas, and you can solve any issues or problems that may arise a lot easier, which is very important to keep in mind.

Communication

Yes, communication is a pivotal thing to consider when you want to find the right housemate. Ideally you want a housemate that talks with you about everything, yet at the same time respects your boundaries. It will be very helpful and results will be great every time due to that.

Friendly

While you don’t have to be friends with your housemate, having one with a friendly attitude can make a huge difference. They will avoid any stressful situations and try to help you. Plus, a friendly attitude can go a long way when it comes to having a great time in the student accommodation Southampton you chose.

Adaptability

The best housemate for student housing Southampton is one that’s adaptable. Student life poses its fair share of challenges, so you have to adapt and tackle every challenge the best way that you can. An adaptable housemate will always know how to handle situations and in the end it will be worth it.

Cleanliness

Whether we like it or not, most housemates tend to be disorganized. It’s amazing to have an organized roommate, as he will encourage you to arrange your items and focus on cleanliness. This leads to a simpler way to find all your items, not to mention the entire place will be clean all the time.