Room to Study: Creating space to concentrate

While school has just started, it’s not too soon to start creating a study space that will maximize your ability to concentrate. Studying more often isn’t the only thing that will help you get good grades; studying effectively is just as important. Setting aside a regular place to focus on your work can reduce stress and help make it easier and more pleasant to prioritize, focusing on the tasks that affect how well you do in school. Whether you live on- or off-campus, having a good study plan is a key to succeeding this semester.

Physical Comfort

For Beth R., a sophomore at Jamestown College in North Dakota, studying and getting good grades are mandatory. “I have to make sure my grades stay high in order to keep my scholarship at the school,” she explains. By finding time to study late at night, early in the morning, and during her down time, Beth manages to get in 20-30 hours of study time a week while maintaining her job at the school newspaper. Even though she doesn’t have a designated spot for studying, she likes to find study spaces that are comfortable. “You don’t want to be thinking about uncomfortable chairs or how hot it is in your study spot,” Beth says. “You want to be thinking about the material.”

Being physically comfortable is only part of the whole equation, says Alan Hedge, a professor at Cornell University specializing in ergonomics. “A lot of the time people don’t think about the way that they are working until they start to hurt,” he says. Where you study, how you study, what kind of equipment you use, and even what time of day you study not only protect you from injury, but also can help you do better in school. “If you can find a neutral [body] position, you are going to be more healthy, you are going to be more alert, you are going to perform better,” Hedge says.

Make It Yours

Feeling ownership of your study area can offer motivation and comfort as well. Sarah M., a junior at Troy University in Dothan, Alabama, lives off-campus with her husband and two sons, ages 18 and 12. She sits on her couch and uses a coffee table that lifts up as a desk. “I have sticky notes, a calendar, pens, highlighters, my laptop, iPad®, and paper—everything I need within reach,” Sarah notes. “I know if I have to get up to go look for something I need, I’ll find something else to do instead.” Study areas that bring everything to your fingertips can decrease the likelihood of getting distracted.

If you’re not sure how to set up a study area, “simply rely on your own sensitivities,” recommends Judy Morris, Master of Feng Shui at the Feng Shui Research Center in Austin, Texas. “If you want things to work better in your life, have the proper environment for it,” she says. “It’s best to have a chair that is close to the wall, but not facing it, and a lamp that hangs above your shoulder to shine on your work.” Morris recommends getting a bamboo water plant or finding computer programs that play soothing chime sounds to create a relaxed environment. As Albert R., a junior at Colgate University in New York, offers, “Jazz and bossa nova music [plus] a cup of tea, and you have a relaxed and classy study space.”

It is important to keep only things that allow you to study close by, such as a comfortable chair, a nice piece of art, and good light. If you find yourself stressed or losing concentration, “clear some clutter,” Morris suggests.

Manage Distractions

“The Internet is a big distraction, but I find the worst thing I try to do while studying is listen to music with lyrics,” notes Beth R. Some students find they need to move their phones and laptops away so they can focus on their books.

While you may like to be in control of your space, sometimes other people need to be a part of the study equation. More than 40 percent of the respondents to a recent Student Health 101 survey of students across the United States and Canada said that the presence of roommates and family at home had an impact on their choice of study location, and almost 50 percent said the most pressing distraction when studying is other people.

Effective communication with roommates or friends can make a big difference. Brandon P., a junior at Troy University in Dothan, Alabama, is able to study at his job at a local news station, but finds it hard at times. “The biggest challenge that I face when I’m trying to study is my friends or classmates wanting to talk to me,” he says. Professor Hedge explains that having roommates or interruptions doesn’t have to be disruptive. “There are times when people work together collaboratively, there will be times when they work in parallel collective time, and then times when they want to work alone. Remember: it’s okay to set boundaries. Speak with the people with whom you share space to balance each of your needs for quiet and plan a strategy for making it clear when you don’t want to be disturbed.

By way of example, when unexpected guests come over while Erin F., a junior at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is studying, she is straightforward with them. “I usually ask them to come back another time or let them know I can only talk for a short time,” she says. “I sometimes feel bad, but usually the guests that show up know I am in school and completely understand.”

Albert R. feels the same way. “[It’s important to] learn how to say ‘no’ to your friends when they want to do something else,” he explains.

If you are living in a residence hall this semester, sit down with your roommate and talk about rules of the room. Minimize conflict by writing a roommate contract about visitors and quiet time. You can do the same if you live at home with parents or family members. Discuss which areas will be available for studying, at what times, and how to manage multiple responsibilities. Doing this before things get harried can prevent stress and conflict later on.