Principles for Creating a Good Study Space: If you are used to studying while lying on the bed or lounging on the couch, it might be time to take a step back and reconsider your choices. Not having a dedicated study space might be what’s preventing you from efficiently completing your school work.
Setting up your study space will indeed depend on personal preferences – such as colors and organization. However, there are some tips that can be applied to all study spaces. In this article, we will discuss how students can create a space that will help them study more effectively.
1 – Find The Right Space
Some students might like to study in a coffee shop, while others prefer the quiet corner of a library. However, studying outside in a cafe or even a public park might not always be an option. On most days, you will find yourself in your home or the dorm, trying to get the assignments done.
So, the first task at hand is to find a place where you are comfortable and one that can help you focus. Whether you are trying to study for a test or get paper writing help by WritePaper, having a dedicated study room can help sharpen the mind and improve overall concentration.
This space should be away from distraction – preferably, a place where you won’t be disturbed by family members or noises. It would also be better if the space had access to natural light. This can help you become more alert and productive, thus allowing you to study better.
2 – Find the Right Furniture
Most students tend to overlook the importance of finding the right furniture for the study space. If the table is too small, there won’t be enough space to keep all the necessary things. This can lead to clutter, which will further reduce your ability to focus.
Secondly, and crucially, you should also make sure that the chair is comfortable to use. When sitting for long hours at strength, you need a comfortable chair with good back support so that you can be physically at ease. Without a good chair, you might end up with back pain over time.
3 – Set the Lighting
Although we mentioned that natural lighting is preferable, such a luxury might not always be possible. Moreover, sometimes the natural light available might not be sufficient. And, of course, you should also factor in how much light you will need during late hours, especially if you are a night owl.
So, make sure that you have a proper desk lamp if you are used to studying with books. Alternatively, if you prefer using screens, then try to position the desk in a manner that there isn’t any glare. Having a light source behind you can reflect from your computer screen, which can make things difficult.
In other words, picking a good artificial lighting arrangement is necessary, no matter where your study desk is located.
4 – Stock the Supplies
Once you have got the furniture and lighting ready, next, you can proceed to gather your supplies. The idea is to have everything you need for studying close at hand so that you don’t spend time unnecessarily fumbling around looking for a notepad or a pen.
At the minimum, you need to have classic supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, highlighters, and so.
Now that everything is accessible on the internet, you might not need a dictionary or a calculator nearby. However, if you would like to turn off the internet while studying in order to avoid distractions, then you might need to go old school and probably keep these items nearby.
However, avoid keeping too many items on the desk. Instead, assign areas in a handy drawer or a shelf nearby to keep the study space clutter-free.
5 – Clean Your Desk Regularly
While you gather your supplies, bear in mind that it is also important to keep your desk organized in order to make studying the most efficient. When you sit down for a learning session, a clean desk surface will be more welcoming than a cluttered one.
If you often find it challenging to keep your desk clutter-free, try the following tips:
- Keep only the items you regularly use within reach.
- Other items can be stirred in the drawers or elsewhere.
- School supplies and other things can go under your desk or can be strategically organized using baskets.
- Clear clutter from cables with ties or other dedicated organizers.
Moreover, make sure that you clean the desk after every study session. The empty coffee mugs or snack wrappers need to be cleared out in between sessions so things don’t pile up while you are studying.
6 – Organize Your Computer Too
Since the majority of students rely on computers to do their homework as well as for entertainment, being organized should extend to your computers too. After all, when hastily looking for a downloaded textbook, you do not want to spend hours scouring through the different files on your laptop.
Start by creating specific folders for different subjects, and then organize them as per your preferences. Make sure to assign each file a proper name instead of some random words; this will make it easier to find the document when doing a search. In addition to this, it would also work well to keep the desktop of your computer clean,
7 – Don’t Hesitate to Make It Personal
Your study space should not only focus on keeping you focused, but it should also motivate you. So, do not hesitate to add some personal touches that will make it a spot where you wish to spend your time.
Leave some room to add photos, plans, or other accessories. You can also place some awards or accolades that you have received above your desk, which can help offer positive reinforcement. These can be gentle reminders that your hard work pays off.
8 – Switch to a Portable Study Table
For some students, the dorm room design or your bedroom layout might not make room for a study table. In such cases, you might want to get creative in finding a study space.
An easy solution is to find a portable study desk that can be used while sitting on a couch, a lounge chair, or even a bed. There are different models available, and some even allow you to hold coffee cups and come with fans for laptops. While these won’t be as spacious as a study desk, they can indeed help get the task done.
You can also find standing desks that take up less space, but it might make it uncomfortable to focus on the task at hand after a few minutes.
Bonus Tip: Set Rules And Stick to Them
Finally, no matter how well your study space is, without discipline, you will not be able to complete your reading efficiently. This means that you will have to set some rules for yourself and, moreover, adhere to them.
You might have to create a plan for how long you can study at one stretch. Trying to focus for too long might be helpful. Moreover, you should also eat healthily and get enough sleep to maximize your cognitive functioning. The key is to know how your body and mind work and come up with a system that works best for you. While some prefer to study in the early hours of the day, others might seek out the silence of the night to focus.
The point is that there is no shortage of creative options when it comes to designing your own study space or schedule. At the end of the day, it is all about finding a solution that is comfortable but not too cozy that it distracts you from focusing on studying.
