YOUR STUDY SPACE AND YOUR STUDY ROUTINE
YOUR STUDY SPACE AND YOUR STUDY ROUTINE
Some students have the luxury of a quiet and private place to study, but most students have family, roommates, and other distractions to interrupt their studies. Carving out a workspace—even if it’s just a table in the library—will make the time you spend on your studies more efficient.
What study habits are most efficient? A great deal of research addresses this question. And students have their own wide range of answers, including, for some students, the belief that it’s efficient to work with the television on or music blaring and energy drinks at hand. We don’t propose that you try to become the superman or superwoman of studying. Instead, we suggest that you develop these steady habits centered on organizing your space and routine:
- Set up a simple but organized workspace that includes all the materials and supplies you need. If you have your own desk, at the beginning of the semester set up a space for your computer, stock your supplies, and establish a simple filing system for your papers. (Buying an extra printer cartridge at the beginning of the semester is wise.)
- Particularly if you do not have your own desk, invest in an inexpensive portable filing system. If you commute to school in your own car, your trunk can become your “office,” complete with a filing box to store papers and another box to store books and supplies. If you commute on public transportation or walk and your “office” is a backpack, try using a plastic accordion file (available at office supply stores). Label one pocket for each class, leaving one or two pockets for paper and extras. Accordion files are better than the typical notebooks you used in high school because they can hold handouts, flash / USB drives, note cards, and all your materials.
- Choose a place to study that you find comfortable and pleasing. Try to use the same space for every study session so that you associate that place with schoolwork. Do not study in bed, where you are likely to fall asleep. Find a spot that is a little less cozy.
- Take breaks that make you happy and energized and that encourage you to return to work. Doing five minutes of dancing to your favorite song or doing twenty push-ups after a half hour of work are great break ideas because they activate your body and help your brain focus. Surfing the Internet for five minutes is not so good, because it almost always turns into fifteen or twenty minutes, and it makes you lose focus.