As a high school student, there are many places to study. However, you need to find the best study space that is suited for you. This will help you get into a studious mood and achieve good grades.
This may mean having no parents or siblings walking in while you’re busy studying for a test or mulling over a math problem.
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In addition, it could also mean getting out of the house so you can avoid numerous temptations that will prevent you from studying. Examples are video games, movies, or those latest music downloads that you want to listen to.
What you don’t know is that you can find and/or create a great space for you to study anywhere, anytime.
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In this article, we shall take a look at the characteristics of great study spaces, the things you will need to create them, and examples of the places where you can get that much-needed studying done.
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Characteristics of Great Places to Study
The goal of study spaces is to maximize your attention on your studies. There are four important characteristics that can help you achieve this goal and make certain spaces ideal for studying. Let us enumerate these characteristics one by one:
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1) It should be distraction-free.
Your study space should be rid of anything and everything that will distract you from studying. Examples of items that you should not have in your study space include your cell phone (if you must have your phone with you, set it on silent or airplane mode), video games, computers with multiple external monitors and/or lots of open tabs or windows, and messy foods and drinks.
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If you have problems of people walking into your room or other study space and disturbing you, consider hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside your door.
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2) Let all the tools you need be highly accessible to you.
As you get rid of all the distractions in your study space, replace them with all the tools you need for studying and keep them within easy reach.
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First, have your textbooks, notebooks, and other resources pinned between bookstands on your desk in front of you. You can also set up a hanging bookcase. As a result, you can easily reach up from your desk and get the books you need.
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Second, make sure that you have a complete and ready-to-use set of school supplies. Keep pencils sharpened or have on stock new pens and extra mechanical pencil leads. Third, always have fresh batteries in your calculator. Fourth, prepare index cards for jotting down quick notes. Fifth, have a pad paper on hand for those distracting thoughts.
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You may also want to consider ergonomics when it comes to your chair and desk. By investing in a comfortable ergonomic chair or desk, you can prevent the low backaches that come with studying for long periods of time. However, if you can’t afford to buy a new chair, you can experiment with cushions. As a result, you can find a position that is comfortable for your back. Moreover, to make sure that you are in the correct ergonomic position while studying, take a look at this infographic from Zapier.com.
Many students have found that studying in a standing position has helped to increase their productivity. One cost-efficient standing desk is the Spark Standing Desk, made out of hard cardboard. There are a number of DIY standing desks that you can make on your own.
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Lastly, you may also consider adding the following: whiteboards for brainstorming, a timer to know when to stop and move on to the next subject, or a small side table on which to put your food and drinks.
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3) Have sufficient lighting.
Lighting is important to improve productivity. A German study conducted on the students of Cologne University of Applied Sciences, resulted in them becoming more creative when working under warm light(3000k). However, these same students were more focused and productive under cold light (6000k).
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If you’re not sure how much light you will need, try experimenting with a dimmer. Adjust the brightness and color temperature of your light. Make sure that it’s not too bright or too dim that it causes eye strain or eye fatigue. In addition, you might also want to consider investing in a desk lamp.
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Moreover, another great option is by positioning your desk near the window. Warm sunlight promotes the release of serotonin which not only boosts your mood, but also helps to keep you calm and focused on your studies.
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4) Adjust the room temperature (if possible).
You know how difficult it is to study if the room gets too hot or cold. This has been confirmed in a review of studies on office worker productivity by researchers of the University of Helsinki and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In this review, highest productivity is achieved when the room temperature is between 22oC and 25oC (72oF and 77oF). Errors among the office workers increased in frequency as a result of the room temperature going above or below this range.
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If you don’t have a thermostat or your dorm has fixed air conditioning, try to find a spot inside your room with a comfortable temperature.
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Great Study Spaces For Your Consideration
We are done enumerating the characteristics of great study spaces, let us now look at specific locations wherein you can get some serious studying done. By keeping in mind the above characteristics, you can tweak the spaces that are available to you so that they become ideal spots for studying.
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1) Your Room
The first great study space that should come to your mind is your own room. The best thing about studying in your room is that you can make the necessary changes and improvements so that it matches the characteristics of ideal study spaces that we have mentioned earlier.
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Again, get rid of all distractions from your room or, at least, have an allotted drawer, cabinet or chest to keep distracting stuff, like cell phones, TV sets, etc. Make sure that you have all the things you need within easy reach for when you need them. Practice ergonomics by making adjustments to existing chairs, desks and other furniture so that you are comfortable while you study. Whenever possible, make adjustments to your lighting and room temperature to increase your productivity. To prevent people from disturbing you, make it a point to hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside your room.
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One last thing. If you want to study, avoid your bed. You don’t want to get too comfy on your bed so that you end up falling asleep instead of studying.
2) Library
The next best study space is your library. I recommend visiting both your High School and local libraries. A visit to your local library is a must since it may have additional resources that your school library does not have.
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Try to find a spot in your library where you can study in peace. It should be quiet (with minimal foot traffic from students entering or leaving) and spacious enough for you to place and arrange all your study materials.
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Since library chairs can be hard and painful on your back, bring with you a cushion for you to sit on or to support your lower back. To prevent slouching, borrow a bookstand from your librarian so that the book you are reading will be at eye level.
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3) Academic buildings
Is your High School a part of a sprawling college campus? You might want to check out the academic buildings on your campus as potential study spaces.
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Academic buildings, departments, study lounges, or labs are commonly devoted to particular subjects. If you want to study math, you can go to your campus’ math building or lab. What is great about these places is that there may be students or even teachers who can tutor you on specific problems that you are having in your studies.
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They are also great places when studying for tests. Putting yourself in an environment that simulates test conditions will improve your information recall through context-dependent memory, as well as beat test anxiety.
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4) Empty classrooms
In between subjects, you may find empty classrooms, which are perfect places for you to study. Much like academic buildings, you may even find your teacher scoring test papers or preparing for the next hour’s class. If your teacher is not too busy, you can ask for further tutoring on the day’s lesson.
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5) Other on-campus locations
You can do a bit of roaming around campus for other locations where you can study. Good study places include the student center lounge or the dining hall. If you want the sound of athletes playing in the background, the school park or gym is also a good option. Just remember to bring the books and school supplies that you need.
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6) Off-campus sites
If school is over and you don’t want to go home yet, you can get some studying done in a few off-campus sites. Many students love the ambiance of their local coffee shop. Not only is it quiet, but they can also enjoy yummy snacks and drinks.
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If you’re on a budget, a coffee shop may not be an ideal location for you. Aside from the public library in your neighborhood, you can do some studying at the reading nook of your local bookstore or your local community center.
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Creating your ideal study space is a work in progress. Try incorporating our suggestions into your current study space to see if they work for you or not. Always remember that study spaces should serve the ultimate goal of enabling you to study more effectively and with greater focus.