One of the joys of a laptop is how easy it is to flip open the lid and start studying anywhere you want. But, in a busy space, it’s easy to become exposed to disruptions and distractions and even develop habits that can harm our health and well-being.
Most students don’t have a spare room or separate workspace to study from, so what can you do? Here we look at the best way to organize, arrange and maintain your room for study sessions. We explore evidence-based tips and tricks for creating a relaxing environment that will supercharge your studying.
Why create a study space?
The simple reason you'll want to create a workspace is to ensure a separation between education and enjoyment.
You’ll want your room to be a positive environment where you can study in peace. But, when your work is done, you’ll want to quickly be able to switch back to somewhere that’s relaxing, rewarding, and easy to unwind.
The key is to find the right balance and focus on “functional comfort”.
Here are 5 ways that you can make your room better for studying.
1. Get a *proper* desk and chair
If you’ve got the space, invest in a desk and an appropriate chair. Recent studies have found having a dedicated workspace can improve productivity (it was among workers, but the principle is the same.)
While you may not have the space for a traditional office desk, space-saving solutions include ladder desks, floating desks (secured to the wall), and ultra-narrow desks. You can also buy height-adjustable desks that can be raised up and down to suit you. Some even enable you to study standing up, which can also improve posture and productivity!
A suitable chair set to the right height can keep you in the correct posture, protecting you from long-term damage to your spine. If you have the space and can afford it, a high-quality desk and chair are vital.
2. Organize and optimize the space
It’s often a struggle to get started with studying because the environment we are in isn’t positive. Psychologists call this “functional comfort,” – and maximizing it is essential to creating the best home-studying environment.
Consider how you study and plan ahead. Ensure you’ve got your books, study guides, stationery, and more ready for when you need them.
You’ll want a space for your laptop and all connections, including a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Prepare a suitable background for lectures and workshops and test all tech to avoid embarrassing issues!
3. Minimize digital distractions and declutter
An incredible 96% of students have a digital device next to them while studying. While staying connected is essential, minimizing digital distractions can give your learning a welcome boost.
DMs, social notifications, and email alerts can all interrupt your flow, which can be challenging to restore. When studying, try switching on airplane mode and catch up with conversations when taking a regular break.
As well as digital distractions, you should also go through your workspace and look to remove clutter. It’s easy for a mess to build up on a desk, including paper, pens, and printers. That's before we get to the regular junk that we can accumulate while living and studying in a small space. Decluttering is all about downsizing and focusing on the stuff you need while eliminating the things you don't.
4. Bring nature inside
You’ll want to ensure your study environment is well-lit, with natural light from a window as the best source. But don’t just stop there. Research from the University of Exeter has shown that houseplants can improve productivity and concentration by up to 47%.
While introducing large numbers of plants to your workspace may not be possible, finding ways to soften the space can help improve study performance. You can work on adding artwork, ornaments, and other elements that can help you feel comfortable.
When you’re working, ensure a steady flow of air. If the weather is good enough, get the window open and welcome the outside in.
5. Eat well and stay hydrated
The impact of dehydration on performance is well known, so staying hydrated is essential. And don't stop at getting enough water; be sure also to eat a healthy diet delivering the vitamins and minerals you need.
Alongside your water bottle, have a selection of healthy snacks on hand that will help you to concentrate and stay focused. For example, snacking on fresh fruit or vegetables, nuts, or dried fruit will give you enough energy to keep focused while studying. The best way to achieve this is to prepare everything in advance, so you won't have to think while in the zone.
Making learning easier
Studying alone isn’t easy, so having a suitable place set up and ready to go should be a priority. You must consider all aspects of your study environment, creating somewhere that works for you.
Focus on delivering functional comfort, building a study environment shaped around your requirements. Of course, only you'll know what that is, but our blog outlines the basics. When you've got a setup that works, keep your room clean and decluttered, and minimize digital distractions. And when you’re done studying, clear it away, close the door, and get on with the rest of the day!
The study tool that creates confident learners
Does studying stress you out? You’re not alone. College learning is tough at the best of times. That’s why we built Glean.
Glean captures everything from class, and gives you a simple set of tools to deal with all that info easily and effectively. The result? Over 70% of learners using Glean improve their grades after just one semester.
