Saving energy and money this winter

Rising energy prices are putting considerable pressure on household budgets throughout Europe. Despite Government intervention in most countries to help ease the financial stress, there are many practical ways to reduce your energy usage and save money. Here we provide some obvious (and less obvious) ways to cut your energy usage and save money this winter. 

4 minutes

How to improve your communication in relationships

Empathy is defined as the ability to identify with someone in what they feel and share their feelings. It's also known as putting yourself in “someone else's place” or in ‘someone else’s skin’. Empathy is an essential skill in interpersonal relationships, because knowing how someone acts or feels is essential to understand and helping them.

3 minutes

What is responsible investing?

Socially Responsible Investing

People are increasingly looking for ways in which they can have a positive impact on the world. Over the past decade we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people switching to plant based diets and choosing to drive electric or hybrid vehicles. These lifestyle changes are both widely understood and accepted ways to lessen our impact on the environment, but another way to have a positive social impact is through the growing world of socially responsible investing.
 

5 minutes

Why spend time in nature?

Being in contact with nature has many benefits for our physical and mental health. Scientific evidence shows that being in nature, whether in a garden, in a park or in the countryside, improves our mood and reduces risk factors for some diseases. 

Spending time in nature helps us to:

3 minutes

You don't need energy drinks to get ready

When we feel tired, have slept badly, or need to be "alert", sometimes we turn to energy drinks for a boost. As the advertisements often claim, energy drinks are supposed to provide the energy you need to keep the body running when the battery is low.

Energy drinks are widely consumed by teenagers, athletes and people who have very long working hours. If they are consumed frequently, energy drinks can have negative health effects, especially when combined with other stimulants or alcohol. If taken when exercising, they have a diuretic effect and increase the risk of dehydration.

3 minutes

Making the most of discounts available

With the cost of living rising for many of us, making money go further has seldom been more important. Obviously, by budgeting and identifying non-essential expenditure it is possible to cut costs, but when it comes to our essential spending on things such as food and clothing, how can you make savings to make your money go further? One way is by using discounts and loyalty schemes, and here we provide some tips on how to do it:

5 minutes

Dance! Your mental health will thank you

Dance has accompanied mankind since its origins. Each village, region or country has a “typical dance” that brings together its neighbors to have fun and to celebrate. 

Throughout history, dance has evolved and has become a good way to exercise. Actually, the American Heart Association recommends dancing as a moderate aerobic physical activity. This is confirmed by a study involving people who danced Zumba: 93% stated that dancing improved their mood, 77% considered that it reduced stress and 89% felt mentally relieved after dancing.

2 minutes

How to get fit by walking

There is a saying, “Who moves the legs, moves the heart”. The explanation is that walking is one of the physical activities that most helps keep general health and, above all, heart health.

Walking is easy to practice, affordable for anyone and very cheap. You don't need any preparation or previous training, nor a specific place to walk. You just need some comfortable shoes and clothes and go for it!

3 minutes