It would be best if you studied because you have a huge test. You go to your preferred coffee shop, get a large cup of coffee, and then pick up your book.
… and get sidetracked right away.
You put on your headphones and start listening to your favourite music, but you soon find yourself dancing to the bass instead of paying attention to your actual test.
Or, let’s assume you have young children at home and are enrolled in an online study course. As much as you love your children, you need a place to temporarily escape the distractions and concentrate on passing this test.
It would help if you had a separate study area where you could concentrate diligently.
You don’t have to be an eccentric rich person living in a castle on a cliff, as you may think, to have your own space for studying. You may establish one in your home or apartment if you adhere to a few straightforward rules when designing the area.
What exactly are those rules?
Here are six:
Your Study Area Should Be Quiet & Distraction Free
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in his book, “The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson,”
There are moments when it feels like everyone is conspiring to annoy you with petty things. Come out to us! All at once, a friend, client, child, illness, fear, want, and charity knock on your closet door. But maintain your position; avoid their commotion.
Okay, that might be excessive, but you get the idea. There are a lot of outside distractions.
Your preferred study location should be calm and distraction-free, first and foremost. It should go without saying, but nowadays, it’s rather typical to study in noisy environments with a lot of background noise.
Many people will also play loud music or watch a movie to “distract” themselves from the deafening silence. They believe that having a background activity aids their ability to concentrate. There is, after all, nothing quite like “X-Men II” to induce a serene frame of mind.
However, most people need to be made aware that a quiet, distraction-free environment is actually the most effective when it comes to studying. Mark Andrews asserts in an article for Scientific American:
According to numerous studies, stress brought on by constant white noise might cause the body to release the hormone cortisol, which aids in reestablishing equilibrium after a stressful event. The prefrontal cortex, an emotional learning region that aids in regulating “executive” skills, including planning, reasoning, and impulse control, is impaired by excessive cortisol. Recent research suggests that short-term memories are also stored in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, modifications to this area may impair a person’s ability to think clearly and retain information.
This means that the optimal environment for studying should be quiet and distraction-free. There shouldn’t be any buzzing from your phone or email, and you might want to use a white noise maker to make a relaxing background noise. As an alternative, turn on a fan to produce the same amount of ambient noise.
Studies have shown that having some classical music playing in the background might be beneficial, so feel free to play some Chopin softly through your speakers.
There are undoubtedly situations where studying in a coffee shop or with your favourite music playing in the background is appropriate, but keep it quiet during the most important sessions. Once you’ve finished your studying, have a dance party.
Comfortable Study Space
Your study area must be comfy, which should be obvious. You must take good care of your body if you intend to spend a lot of time studying. The room’s temperature should be cool without freezing and warm without making you fall asleep.
Purchase a desk that you can sit at comfortably and a comfy chair that will provide appropriate lumbar support. If you’re going to be stooped over for hours, you should set up a standing desk, which can protect your back.
A treadmill desk can be an option if you’re a fitness enthusiast, but it might go too far.
Your objective is to create a space in which you will enjoy spending a lot of time. You’ll detest studying if your study space reminds you of an Alcatraz prison cell in solitary confinement.
Well-Organised Study Space
Your study space shouldn’t resemble a scene from “Hoarders.” Everything should be neatly arranged and simple to find around you. While having notes all over the place may give you that “Beautiful Mind” vibe, it will make studying much more difficult.
At the risk of seeming incredibly nerdy, we advise keeping study materials organised, papers filed in the proper folders, and pens and pencils neatly held together. Stick all of your Post-It notes on a poster board if you are a Post-It person.
Consider arranging your digital data as well. You want to place a vital piece of paper or chart correctly during finals. If you’re having difficulties getting things organised, think about implementing one of the following strategies:
- Evernote
- Google Drive
- OneNote
These systems let you perform searches using both the file name and the words contained within it. Even OCR (optical character recognition) is supported by Evernote, allowing you to upload images of handwritten notes.
Your Study Space Should Be Pleasant
Your room should be not only cosy but also appealing. In other words, you ought to design an area that you merely like being in, which will significantly improve your studying experience.
There are countless options for personalising your home. To give a pleasing scent to the air, you can use candles or essential oil diffusers. There is a candle that smells like money if you’ve ever imagined yourself as a wealthy billionaire who is physically rolling around in cash!
A good atmosphere can be created in a space with tasteful lighting. Remove the harsh interrogation room illumination by grabbing a few floors or desk lamps.
Be bold and make minor personal adjustments. Are you an ardent admirer of Braveheart? Posters should be hung everywhere. Do Beethoven busts elicit some strange obsession in you? Have him go with you while you study.
You can also add relaxing background noise, as was already indicated, to block out distractions. Several gadgets and applications make soothing noises, and you may make it appear like you’re doing homework while sitting on the beach in a downpour.
You have the chance to exercise your imagination here. Create a room that you genuinely like being in. A place you enjoy being in. You’ll want to study more if you have more positive associations with it.
Your Study Space Should Keep You On Schedule
This needs to be explained a little. The best studying occurs when a strict routine is followed. In other words, you know your start, stop and break times. By keeping a timetable, you can concentrate and estimate how much longer you need to study.
To make matters worse, those who divide up their total study time into blocks are the ones who learn best. Many people use the “Pomodoro” method to concentrate for brief periods followed by a short mental break.
Using the Pomodoro technique, you might study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and then study for another 25 minutes. You take a lengthier break of fifteen or twenty minutes after three or so study sessions. You can concentrate intensely for short periods by segmenting your sessions, enhancing your learning.
S.J. Scott claims the following in a piece about the Pomodoro Technique:
Theoretically, this approach works because you give one task—like writing—your full attention without varying your concentration or multitasking. You resist the impulse to check email, visit Facebook, respond to texts, or engage in any other distracting activity when the timer is going. You’re concentrated and in the zone.
You need a primary timekeeper in your study area, such as an alarm clock or timer, to study in this manner. You only need something to tell you when to start and stop; it doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
It would be best if you prioritise studying when you are most alert in addition to making a routine. This means that you should check when you are most alert and focused. Most of your studying should be done in the morning if that’s when you perform your best. You may recall more information in less time by concentrating on your prime time, increasing your efficiency by two or three times.
Formulating Regulations For Your Study Space
It would help if you established guidelines in your study area to maximise its effectiveness. These guidelines are intended to help you make the most of your experience, not to ruin the fun. Among these guidelines could be
- No cell phones
- No social media or email checks.
- Snacking is only permitted during set break hours.
Even though it may seem stupid, you may post a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to let people know that you are in the middle of a crucial meeting.
“Discipline is the bridge between aspirations and accomplishment,” remarked Jim Rohn. In the end, freedom is achieved via discipline, and following these guidelines is one way to accomplish that.
Like Your Space
Due to space or financial limitations, you might need help to design the room of your dreams, packed with a comfy leather chair, beautiful wall art, and a top-notch sound system. After all, this is a study area, not a man cave or anything off Pinterest.
But by following a handful of these guidelines, you can make even the most uninteresting setting into one you genuinely want to go to.
“An investment in knowledge pays the finest interest,” stated Benjamin Franklin. You are eventually investing in your education, which is priceless, by spending some time and money on your study place.
With Mr Franklin, we concur. You are making a priceless investment in your knowledge by setting up a space for studying that is calm, at ease, well-organised, enjoyable, and focused.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best study space to learn and grow, our more than capable tutors in Path Finder Tuition can help your children achieve just that. We are dedicated to bringing your children high-quality and personalised lessons guaranteed to motivate them to learn in school.
Please explore our website for more information about our services. You can also check out other interesting articles in our free articles section.