Picture this: You have a test tomorrow and you’ve sat down at your desk, ready to study. It’s gloomy outside so your room is dark. Your desk has clutter all over it, so you can’t find your notes from yesterday. Your mechanical pencil has run out of lead, your chair is uncomfortable, and you’re getting distracted with the mess that is on your bed.
When your study environment is less than ideal, it is hard to concentrate on your studies, which can hinder your productivity. Therefore, at the start of a new term or semester, or even before SWOTVac, you should spend some time fixing up your study space. The better your study area, and the more customised it is to you, the more productive you will be in that space.
Need some advice on how to create the best study space? Then this article is for you.
Designate a Space for Studying
As tempting as it might be to study on your bed all day every day, it’s not going to benefit you in the long run. Therefore, you need to find a space that you can keep as your ‘designated study space.’ This will train your mind to associate the space with study. It may be another corner in your bedroom (with a desk or of course), a space in the family study, or if you’re lucky, a separate room in your house.
It's also useful to choose a space that is close to a power outlet. This will mean you can easily have your computer on charge while studying if necessary or plug in any external monitors or lamps. No one wants to deal with a mess of long tangly wires and extension cords!
Purchase a Good Study Desk
Of course, you can’t study without a desk! Therefore, you should do some research and find one that suits you. Perhaps you struggle to sit for long periods of time – you could try an adjustable desk so you can stand? Or maybe you want a desk with built-in drawers? The bigger the better - both in length and width. This will ensure that you have enough space to work with.
Choose a Comfortable Chair
As a busy student, you may have to spend countless hours studying, especially in the lead up to exams. You don’t want to get a sore back after a long study day! Therefore, you must invest in a good quality chair for studying. A good, ergonomic chair should have:
- A thick cushion
- Armrests
- An adjustable seat height and headrest
- Back support
Have Good Lighting
In most of the summer months, it is likely that you will have good natural lighting in your room. To maximise the usage of natural light, it is beneficial to have your desk in front of a window.
Unfortunately, in those dreary winter months, you won’t get to enjoy the benefits of natural light. Studying in the dark can lead to a multitude of issues, especially in regards to your eyesight. Therefore, it is worth investing in a small lamp that you can keep on your desk. Make sure the light is bright enough and lights up your entire desk. You should also experiment with the types of light you work best with – do you prefer warm or cool light?
Have Storage Solutions
No one wants to work at a desk that has papers everywhere, sticky notes stuck to every corner and pens scattered around. Therefore, you should invest in some storage solutions that can be used to store extra stationery, books, and folders. You might have pencil pots to store your pens, drawers to keep your books and a file to keep any loose papers.
And keep it clean! At the end of every study session, pack everything back in the place they belong.
Keep All Study Materials Within Arm’s Length
While you're studying, it’s important that you minimise all distractions that will break your flow state and ability to concentrate. This includes having all your study materials within arm’s length. If you need to walk around the house to find something, it is likely you will get distracted, and won’t come back to studying. Therefore, when you set up your study space, make sure you keep everything you need for studying in the area. This may include:
- Blank sheets of paper
- A calculator
- Stationery (pens, pencils, eraser, ruler)
- Textbooks
- Computer chargers
- Index cards
- A whiteboard
Remove Distractions
The goal of a study space is to help keep your attention on your studies. Having distractions in your study space is not going to help with this! Whether it be your phone, the book you are currently reading or a craft project, keep any distractions out of your view.
Personalise Your Space
You need to be motivated to stay in your study space, and it should be customised to your interests. As such, you should invest in small décor pieces and wall art that will help keep your study space inviting.
Here are some ideas for things you can add:
- Indoor plants – helps add greenery to your space
- Candles – great for lighting in winter to bring a cosy vibe
- Posters/art prints – these can be a great source of motivation, especially if you hang up posters of inspirational quotes or places you want to visit
- Calendar – can help keep you organised and see your monthly tasks at a glance
Hopefully these tips gave you some ideas on how you can create the best study space for you. It’s hard to stay motivated for studying when you don’t have a great study space, so it’s worth investing time to creating a space that works for you. It’s not easy to be productive for hours straight when you’re not comfortable in your study space!
