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Imagine studying to the sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds, with a cool breeze drifting by. Sounds refreshing, right? A change of scenery can do more than lift your mood. Research suggests that time in nature can help reduce stress and restore your ability to focus, which makes outdoor study sessions worth a try during ASWB exam prep.
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Quick answer: does studying outdoors help?
- It can: time in nature is linked to lower stress and better attention after mental effort.
- Best for: review, reading, flashcards, and short practice sets.
- Plan ahead: pick a safe, shaded spot, charge your devices, and check the weather and air quality.
- Balance it: take full-length practice exams indoors at a desk to match test-day conditions.
Jump to: Why Nature Helps · Planning an Outdoor Session · Tips for Staying Focused · Practice Questions · FAQs
Agents of Change packages include video and audio lessons, hundreds of practice questions, a personalized study plan, and 2 live study groups each month so you’ll be ready for test day!
1) Why Studying in Nature Can Help
Nature has long been a source of calm and inspiration. Here’s what research suggests it can do for studying:
| Benefit | What the Research Suggests |
|---|---|
| Restored attention | According to attention restoration theory, natural settings give the mental effort of focused attention a chance to recover. Studies have found that walks in nature can improve performance on attention tasks compared with urban walks. |
| Lower stress | Time in green spaces is linked to lower stress and better mood. |
| Fresher air | Indoor air can build up carbon dioxide in crowded or poorly ventilated rooms, which may make you feel sluggish. Stepping outside gets you fresh air. |
| Daylight and sleep | Daylight helps regulate your body clock, which supports better sleep at night and alertness during the day. |
| Built-in movement | Getting outside often means walking, stretching, and moving more, which can help you feel more energized. |
One caution: nature isn’t automatically distraction-free. Wind, noise, people, and bugs can all pull your attention, so planning ahead matters. And every learner is different. If you focus better at a desk, use outdoor time for breaks and lighter review.
2) Planning an Outdoor Study Session
Choose Your Spot
- Proximity: A nearby park, garden, or quiet spot in your backyard works well.
- Comfort: A bench, picnic table, or portable chair offers better support than the ground for longer sessions.
- Shade: Look for natural shade, or bring an umbrella or canopy.
- Safety: Avoid isolated areas, especially early in the morning or later in the evening.
Pack Smart
| Item | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Phone or tablet with study materials | Take your Agents of Change materials with you using the iOS or Android apps. |
| Portable charger | Keep your devices powered. |
| A few pens, highlighters, and sticky notes | Carry only what you need in a small pouch. |
| Clips or paperweights | Keep notes from blowing away. |
| Water and a snack | Stay hydrated and fueled. |
| Sunscreen, hat, and a light layer | Protect yourself from sun and changing temperatures. |
| Waterproof bag | Protect devices and notes from unexpected rain. |
Structure Your Session
- Set clear goals: Decide what you’ll cover before you head out.
- Choose the right tasks: Reading, reviewing notes, flashcards, and short sets of practice questions work well outside.
- Plan breaks: Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break to stretch or walk.
- Review at the end: Spend a few minutes summarizing what you learned and noting what needs more attention.
Save full-length practice exams for a quiet indoor space at a desk, since that’s closer to what you’ll experience at the testing center. Agents of Change offers four full-length, 122-question practice exams that match the new exam format.
3) Tips for Staying Focused Outdoors
| Tip | How to Do It |
|---|---|
| Pick the right time | Early mornings and late afternoons are often cooler and calmer. The sun’s UV rays are usually strongest from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Limit your phone | Check messages at set times, like once an hour, and turn off notifications in between. |
| Read out loud | Explaining concepts out loud is a great way to check your understanding, and it’s easier to do outside than in a library. |
| Use breaks well | During breaks, take a short walk or notice your surroundings. Then return to your materials. |
| Stay flexible | If the weather turns or the spot gets noisy, move or head indoors. A short, focused session still counts. |
Looking for more ways to add movement to your prep? Read Integrating Physical Activity Into ASWB Exam Prep, and fit outdoor sessions into your study schedule.
4) Practice Questions
Social Work has its own way of looking at people and their environments. Try these three questions.
Question 1: A Social Worker assessing a client considers the client’s family, neighborhood, workplace, and access to community resources. This approach BEST reflects:
A) The person-in-environment perspective
B) The medical model
C) Psychoanalytic theory
Correct Answer: A) The person-in-environment perspective
Rationale: The person-in-environment perspective, central to Social Work, views clients within the context of their relationships, community, and broader environment. The medical model focuses on diagnosing and treating individual pathology, and psychoanalytic theory focuses on unconscious processes.
Question 2: According to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, a parent’s demanding work schedule that affects a child’s daily life is an example of the:
A) Exosystem
B) Microsystem
C) Chronosystem
Correct Answer: A) Exosystem
Rationale: The exosystem includes settings the child isn’t directly part of but that still affect them, like a parent’s workplace. The microsystem includes direct settings like home and school, and the chronosystem refers to changes over time.
Question 3: The life model of Social Work practice focuses on the match between a person’s needs and the resources in their environment. This concept is called:
A) Goodness of fit
B) Homeostasis
C) Differentiation of self
Correct Answer: A) Goodness of fit
Rationale: Goodness of fit, central to Germain and Gitterman’s life model, describes how well a person’s needs match their environment’s resources and demands. Homeostasis is a system’s tendency toward balance, and differentiation of self comes from Bowen family systems theory.
Want more practice? Start with our free ASWB practice questions. Agents of Change packages include hundreds of practice questions with rationales, four full-length practice exams, and 2 live study groups each month.
5) FAQs: Outdoor ASWB Study Sessions
How do I handle sudden rain or extreme heat?
Check the forecast before you go, and keep your materials in a waterproof bag. If a brief shower hits, find shelter and wait it out. In hot weather, avoid midday sun, stay in the shade, wear a hat, and drink plenty of water. If you start to feel overheated, head indoors.
What if I’m concerned about pollen or air quality?
Check local air quality and pollen forecasts before planning a session, and stay indoors on poor air quality days. Choose spots away from busy roads. If you have allergies, talk with your health care provider about how to manage them outdoors.
I tend to daydream when I study outside. How can I stay focused?
- Set clear intentions for what you’ll cover before you start.
- Use structured breaks so you know when you can relax and look around.
- Study actively: Ask yourself questions, explain concepts out loud, or answer practice questions instead of just reading.
- Gently refocus: If your mind wanders, take a breath and return to your materials without frustration.
Should I take practice exams outside?
It’s best to take full-length practice exams indoors at a desk, since that’s closer to the testing center. Save outdoor sessions for review, reading, and shorter practice sets.
6) Conclusion
Studying outdoors can be a refreshing change of pace during ASWB exam prep. A little planning goes a long way: choose a safe, comfortable spot, pack the essentials, structure your session, and save full-length practice exams for indoors. A breath of fresh air might be just what you need to stay calm, focused, and motivated on the road to exam day!
► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com
About the Instructor, Dr. Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over 11 years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created the Agents of Change course to help you prepare for and pass the ASWB exam!
Find more from Agents of Change here:
► Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aswbtestprep
► Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/agents-of-change-sw
Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
