I, Mark Roemer, know that the end of the semester is approaching. You’re under a tight deadline and must pull an all-nighter to complete your tasks. Alternatively, you may visit the library, but it will be closing soon. If you ponder a trip to the neighborhood coffee shop, you know it will be packed and that all of the laptop outlets will most likely be taken. Plus, those $5 lattes are becoming prohibitively costly.
Studying at college can be difficult, and we’ve all been there before.
Because of this, setting up a study place in your college apartment is a fantastic concept. It can be the most conducive environment for getting the most productive studying done. All that is required is a little planning and imagination.
If you came looking for ideas on how to set up a space in your college apartment or dorm room, you have come to the right place. Below, you will find many ideas that you will no doubt find beneficial when it comes to making a space that is not only unique but allows you to study in perfect peace and quiet.
The real physical space
If you are fortunate enough to have an extra room or spare closet, now would be the time to utilize them. While it is unlikely that you will have an extra room (we all know the more people you can have in an apartment, the lower the rent will be), you may have closet space big enough for a small desk and chair.
Avoid using your bedroom as a study environment because there may be too many distractions in this area of the house. Avoid using your bed as a study zone, as well. It may have a negative impact on your work, and it is simply too simple to fall asleep.
If your only option is to stay in your bedroom, establish a specific space within the room for sleeping. You are free to rearrange the furniture as you see appropriate. If your desk is directly in front of a wall, consider moving it to a location near a window. On sunny days, the window lets in plenty of natural light, and it also affords a glimpse of the outside world.
Remove all of the clutter and distractions from your workspace
Remove everything from your desk and surrounding locations that you aren’t going to use right away during your study session. Remove any tangible distractions, such as books, periodicals, devices (tablets), video games, and mail from the workspace.
Once you’ve done that, organize your basics so that you can quickly access everything you’ll need while studying, such as your headphones, textbooks, highlighters, and notebooks.
Organizing and cleaning up your environment allows you to have more space to spread out as you study. Instead of allowing objects to gather up on your desk, keep a clutter box near your desk and place items in it instead of allowing them to pile up on your desk. You just have to remember to pick a day and put away (or throw away) everything that’s in the box.
Take, for example, a standing desk
A number of people have stated that having the option to stand has improved their work and productivity significantly. If you are unable to afford a standing desk, you can make one by placing a smaller table (such as an IKEA side table) on top of your existing desk.
You could also attach a tiny shelf to the wall and change the height of the shelf to match your standing height. Make use of a rug or yoga mat to help relieve strain on your back while you’re standing.
The DIY and low-cost ideas for how to make a standing desk may be found on Pinterest in abundance.
There are combination standing/sitting desks, but they are on the expensive side. Your best option is the DIY approach. Search your neighborhood for yard/garage sales to pick up something very cheap.
Increase the brightness of the illumination
For example, if you’re studying in dark lighting or under an overly intense spotlight that gives the impression that you’re being probed, you should consider upgrading your lighting quickly! In order to avoid straining your eyes when studying, make sure there is enough, even light, in the room. Natural light is usually preferable, but if you’re working late into the night, you’ll need adequate indoor lighting.
“You can choose an LED bulb with a brighter white color temperature that spans between 3,000K and 4,500K and is similar to natural sunshine,” say the lighting experts. As a result, this range is preferable for studying since it delivers ideal illumination that is less taxing on the eyes.”
Productivity strategies to help you make the most of your study time
Try the following productivity strategies to make the most of your time once your study room has been neatly arranged, cleaned, and adequately lit:
- Make use of the Pomodoro Technique (timed study): Use the free Tide app to keep track of the time while you’re studying. As a result, you will be concentrated entirely on the topic at hand during this period of time. Determine what time of day is most convenient for you. Many people work in 25-minute chunks of time, followed by a 5- or 10-minute break to recharge their batteries.
- Disconnect: Turn off your phone’s notifications and turn off all notifications on your laptop so you can concentrate.
A study room helps you maintain your routines
No matter how well-kept or attractive your study room is, the most challenging aspect is convincing oneself to sit down and do some work. The key is to create an environment that is conducive to being inspired while minimizing distractions. Bring out your most exemplary study habits, whether that means setting up a standing desk or rearranging some furniture around the room.
You are the only one who truly understands yourself and what atmosphere puts you in “the zone.” Prepare yourself for success by starting the process of designing the optimal study place.
Studying may seem tedious, but I, Mark Roemer, am here to tell you that the more you study before the tests, the better grades you will get. Studying hard at the beginning of the semester will prepare you for the examinations and become more natural as the semester progresses.