(In commercial collaboration with Evon Luonto)
Studying does not always require new tools. Sometimes, it simply requires a new environment.
Student life can be inspiring, social, and rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Deadlines, exams, group projects, and assignments consume a great deal of energy and can easily fill everyday life to the point where personal wellbeing takes a back seat. Productivity is often associated with speed: more tasks completed, better time management, and a tighter schedule. Rarely we stop to consider what happens when we consciously slow down. This is where nature offers a valuable counterbalance.
The role of nature in creating new ideas
Within the student union, we have also noticed how significant an impact our surroundings can have on concentration, wellbeing, and collaboration. For many years, HAMKO board has made it a tradition to step away from everyday routines two or three times a year and gather at Evon Luonto’s cabins for training sessions and strategic planning retreats.
These retreat weekends are dedicated to intensive collaboration, developing our activities, and planning for the future. Surrounded by nature, away from everyday distractions and constant interruptions, participants can focus on what truly matters: working together, sharing ideas, and engaging in meaningful discussions.
When there is space to breathe and nature all around, there is often space for new ideas as well. The peaceful environment encourages creativity, strengthens team spirit, and supports deeper conversations.
Nature is right next to HAMK campuses
Spending time in nature does not have to be a weekend-long project. Sometimes a short walk through a nearby forest or a few minutes outdoors between lectures can make a noticeable difference.
Few universities of applied sciences have nature as close by as HAMK. At many of HAMK’s seven campuses, nature begins quite literally just outside the back door. This unique proximity is something worth taking advantage of as part of your daily study routine.
Going for a walk can be an excellent way to brainstorm ideas for a group project. Likewise, if you feel stuck while studying or do not know where to begin, stepping outside for a moment can help clear your mind and bring fresh perspective.
Nature offers affordable activities for students
Nature provides students with much more than peace and quiet. It also offers accessible and budget-friendly hobbies and shared experiences.
Berry picking, mushroom foraging, and gathering wild herbs combine outdoor activity with cooking and are perfectly suited to a student budget. These activities have two rewarding stages: first learning to identify and gather ingredients, and then preparing and enjoying them together.
Nature also creates opportunities for many other activities, including swimming, hiking, photography, or simply spending time together without a fixed schedule or agenda.
Even a short time outdoors can make a big difference
During busy study periods, breaks are often the first thing students sacrifice, even though they are essential for long-term wellbeing and performance.
Spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and help the mind recover more quickly. Even a brief moment outdoors can have a surprisingly positive impact on energy levels and concentration.
A connection with nature is not only a way to recharge, but also a way to improve the quality of studying itself. It helps shift the focus away from constant achievement and towards long-term thinking: Why am I doing this? Where am I heading? What is enough at this stage?
These are particularly valuable questions for students, whose lives are often filled with choices, uncertainty, and new opportunities.
Nature supports learning
Making use of nature does not always require extensive planning. Sometimes it is as simple as choosing a forest trail instead of a meeting room for a group discussion.
We encourage every student to find their own way of connecting with nature, whether that means taking a short break outdoors, enjoying an evening walk in a nearby forest, or spending a weekend at a cabin. Nature does not ask anything of you. It is enough simply to be there.
To learn more about accommodation, activities, and experiences in the Evo area, visit Evon Luonto: Destinations | Peace & Privacy