We’ll examine the different types of study spaces, the do’s and don’t’s of study space development, and the key principles to be sure your study space does what it should: help you study better.
Let’s get started!
- Video games.
- Your Mobile Phone.
- Lots of open tabs (link to study apps for students which may help avoid this).
- Multiple screens unless it is really imperative to your work (a separate external monitor is fine if you’re using it as your primary screen or as part of a standing desk setup).
- Other people (unless you’re working on a group project, in which case you should be working someplace else).
How to Create a Study Space in Your Room
[embedded content]
I won’t devote a bunch of time on this one, as I think there are generally better places to study, but I had some friends who did all of their studying in places that were neither the library nor a dorm. These included places under a tree on the quad, or even the dining hall, like the pupil centre lounge.
I hope this guide has given you some inspiration for how to make the study space that is most appropriate for you. I said it already, but I’ll say it again: don’t let creating your ideal study space distract you from what really matters: studying.
4. Off-Campus
What’s your study space like?
3. Miscellaneous Places on Campus
As in so many areas of life, it is useful to begin with what to leave out and then add things from there. Naturally, what sets you in a studious mood will differ from person to person, but here are some things you should probably avoid on your study space:
Where do you normally study? If the answer is “lying in bed with my laptop propped on my knees while eating deep-fried Cheetos,” then you may want to think about revamping your study space.
Most of this post will be about how to make a study area . Before we get to that, however, I think it’s a good idea to look at all of the different types of study spaces you (likely) have available to you as a college student.
During my senior year, this was even simpler, because all seniors at my college received a committed “study carrel” (pictured above) to give us a place to work on our Senior Independent Study projects.
My faculty study carrel. Normally the top shelf was full of books.
What to Leave Out of Your Study Space
Essential Study Space Items
- Comfortable yet ergonomic seat or standing desk. If you have never attempted a standing desk installation, I strongly suggest trying it. It’s been a game changer for my productivity and wellness. The Spark standing desk is a cheap starter alternative that I love. It’s made from cardboard, but mine’s still holding after 6 weeks of use. You can also create your own.
- If standing, something soft to stand on (a yoga mat or soft rug works great).
- An external mouse (it is way more ergonomic than using the trackpad).
- Your computer, if necessary.
- Textbooks or e-reader with relevant books loaded.
- Notebooks. While studying, you’re bound to have “great” ideas or just to remember stuff you need to do like laundry or emailing a professor. Don’t let those thoughts distract you–just write them down on the newspaper to get them out of your head and allow you to review them later.
- Plenty of writing utensils appropriate for the subject (mechanical pens for math, etc).
- Calculator or other subject specific tools as required.
- Good lighting. If you can not see your paper, it’ll be harder to work and it’ll make reading more difficult. Natural light is best, but a fantastic desk lamp can make a world of difference also.
- Tactile thinking aids. By way of example, a Rubix cube, some putty/clay, or even just a pen to click. These are great because they give your hands something to do when working on a challenging problem, helping you engage your brain’s non-linear, pattern matching R-mode (for more on this idea, take a look at Pragmatic Thinking and Learning)
- Tea, coffee, or water. These help keep your blood sugar up, ensuring that you are able to remain in the “flow state” for more. Like a very low maintenance plant or a cool poster. I personally have some inspiring quotes written on index cards.
- Paper calendar. This is helpful than you may think. By way of example, when you’re writing an essay and need to look at the date with no distracting yourself by going on Google or looking at your cell phone.
- Study music or ambient noise (I propose Rainy Mood or Coffitivity)
- A kitchen timer. These are helpful for Pomodoro sprints or other time oriented drills. Great for blocking out distractions wherever you’re.
- Make sure all of your study materials are functioning. Do this before you begin studying. You may get derailed easily like your pen isn’t currently working, if something stupid happens, your pencil runs out of lead, or your computer isn’t charged.
- Make your study space ergonomic. Don’t slouch, keep your feet on the floor, position your screen at eye level (otherwise you will wreck your neck), and type with your wrists in a neutral position. For an illustration of this, have a look at this picture from Zapier.
- Keep your study space as clean (or messy) as you like. Some research indicates that messy spaces could be better for creative work, since they encourage unconventional thinking. Other productivity experts swear with a minimalist, decluttered desk. Really, I think it comes down to personal taste. If you can not stand to have things messy, then don’t. I would, however, suggest you experiment with both ways, as the results may surprise you. Whatever you do, don’t let old pizza or take out boxes pile up–that is just gross. Besides being good for your health, routine breaks also boost your productivity and focus.
- View your study space as a WIP. Don’t go out and buy everything we propose in this article. Try a couple of items and see if you like them, then add from there. Remember, the ultimate goal is to make your study time more effective, not to make the best workspace only for its own sake.
- Make the best of the space you have. Especially if you’re in a dorm with a roommate, it can be tricky to get everything perfect. You’ve got to work together with the furniture which you are provided by the college, as well as your roommate’s tastes. But don’t let that discourage you–view it as a motive to get creative.
- Quiet. Most college libraries, mine included, are divided into different noise level zones. Mine ranged from “collaborative” (talking at a normal volume permitted) to quiet (whisper only if necessary) to quiet (don’t you dare even cough). I went with quiet and put on headphones to block out extraneous noise.
- Spacious. That is, enough space for me to spread out all of my novels, external mouse, computer, writing materials, and snacks. Ideally, I would grab one of the place tables on the library’s first floor.
- Empty. This one was a bit trickier, but I attempted to find a place that didn’t have a lot of foot traffic or other distractions. Because if I had been looking up every five minutes to say hi to someone I knew, it wouldn’t be a session.
General Study Space Principles
These are all things that, while entertaining or even productive-seeming, are finally distracting. The goal of a study space would be to optimize the focus you can devote to researching while minimizing the amount of work necessary to do so. You can not do this if the space is full of distractions.
Conclusion
Along with having the right stuff, here are a few more principles which will make your study space (and study time) more effective:
It was a place I moved only to operate, and in that sense it was almost like a workplace. An office with soft natural lighting, wood furniture that is hot, and delicious snacks and beverages.
When I was in college, I did most of my “serious” studying in the library. If I needed to really focus and crank out a newspaper or prepare for a significant exam, the library was my go-to. Where in the library I studied depended upon what I was attempting to accomplish, but generally I looked for a place that met the following criteria:
What to Include in Your Study Space
And that is what today’s article is all about. We’re going to examine how to make a study space that lets you get in, do your very best work, and then contact having high density pleasure.
Image Credits: featured picture, cafeteria, coffee shop, video game control, studious desk, overall study space,
However, even if you don’t have a space like that, it is still possible to carve out a tiny nook of the library which feels just like your own. Find a portion of the library that no one really goes to and use this.
Sometimes, you might want to ditch campus completely. During my senior year, I got some of my writing done at a coffee shop off campus. It was ~20 minutes from my house on foot, so when I got there I made sure I didn’t waste any time.
For instance, there was the dingy basement component of my school’s library known as “Andrews Lower 2”, which was actually only the storage area to the USGS maps and political documents. It made for a quiet and secluded, if creepy, place to study.
Types of Study Spaces
You don’t need to visit an coffee shop to get away. If your college town has a library, check. This may also be a great place to study, as you’re less likely to run into people you know and it may get you out of a creative rut that may come from only studying on campus. Plus, having access may be a study that is super.
If you’re not careful, this can become another kind of productivity porn or procrastination. The ideal study space doesn’t exist, and creating it shouldn’t be your goal. Naturally, reading this article could also be a kind of procrastination, so as soon as you’re done–return to work!
Leave a Reply