13 steps to creating the ideal study space
When it comes to studying, many young people focus only on the learning materials they have on hand and the methods of memorizing content that they will apply. In doing so, they end up forgetting something simple, yet essential: the study space. Often considered just a minor detail, the truth is that this space directly influences your learning.
When chosen intelligently, the environment stimulates your level of concentration, makes you more productive, reduces distractions that lead you to procrastinate, optimizes the use of time, and even increases your willingness to read, review, and exercise.
That's why it's so important to think about and plan which area of your home will be your study space. To help you with this process, we've listed 13 steps that will ensure you make the right choice and prepare the space for your learning routine. Let's go?
1. Find a space to call your own.
The first step is to decide which space in your house you will use as a study area. To do this, consider some criteria, such as:
- The size is important, since very small spaces become stuffy and cause restlessness;
- The access his family members have to him is important, since, even if they don't intend to bother him, his relatives may end up interrupting him and frequently drawing his attention to it.
Another helpful tip is to consider the proximity of the space to rooms that are sources of noise, such as the kitchen, backyard, living room, or dining room. Since silence is essential for maintaining focus, ideally this corner should be as far away from these areas as possible.
2. Have a good table and chair.
When choosing a desk and chair for your study area, pay attention to their dimensions. This is because these two items must be the right height for you so that you don't end up sitting in an incorrect position for hours or have to bend over excessively to read and write.
This practice will only accelerate physical fatigue due to discomfort in the spine and neck. Furthermore, incorrect posture can cause pain and, over time, lead to the development of health problems.
3. Gather all the materials you will need.
After following the two previous steps, you should gather all the materials you will need for your studies and store them in the chosen location so that they are easily accessible.
For example, if you are going to Learn English for college entrance exams., You should place books, notebooks, dictionaries, and other items you use on the table, inside drawers, on shelves, or on nearby shelves.
Therefore, you won't need to leave the room multiple times to get something you're missing. You'll see how this simple action avoids wasting time and excessive pauses that only encourage procrastination.
4. Get rid of distractions.
Before sitting down to start studying, take a look around the room to identify any objects that might distract you, such as magazines, musical instruments, and so on. If you find any, don't hesitate and remove them from the room.
There are some more complex and difficult subjects to understand that will increase the chances of procrastination, making any distraction enough to put studies aside.
Therefore, this care should include the materials used. If you study with a computer, don't open the... social media and other distracting websites. Ideally, have a browser dedicated exclusively to studying. This way, you won't risk being tempted when a website suggestion appears in your browsing history or saved bookmarks.
5. Keep everything organized.
When you finish studying, always remember to put your used materials back in their place. In addition, do a small weekly cleaning of the space to prevent the accumulation of dirt and items that will no longer be used during study.
This will ensure the environment is not only clean, but also properly organized, preventing potential distractions and discomfort that could hinder your learning.
6. Also organize your digital files.
The use of computers to assist studies It has become a common practice, so it's important to keep digital files organized. It's common to save many files without properly checking the destination folder and using recent items to find them, but this is not a good practice.
As time goes by, they can start to get mixed up, disappear from the records, and make them difficult to find. Therefore, create specific folders and name all files correctly so that you can easily find them whenever you need them.
Another tip is to take advantage of cloud storage options, such as... Google Drive. Therefore, if something unexpected happens to your computer or you need to study in another location, all your files can be accessed via the internet.
7. Ensure good lighting.
Studying during the day gives you the chance to take advantage of natural light. However, for those who prefer to dedicate themselves to their books in the late afternoon or at night, the story is different.
In both cases, good lighting will be essential to avoid straining your eyes or making the situation worse. reading tiring. Furthermore, it helps maintain a good level of attention—which is excellent for enhancing your understanding of information.
A good suggestion is to invest in white LED light bulbs — whether for ceiling or table lamps. The reason for this is that, even though they are more powerful and efficient than other models, they consume significantly less electricity.
8. Avoid eating snacks on the premises.
It's important that you avoid eating in your study area. After all, depending on the type of meal, crumbs and food scraps may be left on the table or floor. Besides attracting insects to the room, the smell of food can permeate the environment, becoming a distraction later on.
Not to mention that accidents are inevitable. You might accidentally spill your snack on your study materials, ruining your books and notes. So, if you feel hungry or thirsty, take a short break and go to the kitchen.
9. Consider using a watch.
Another tip to help avoid distractions and procrastination is to use a clock. The reason is simple: with it, you can control your study periods to check your progress. For example, organize your schedule to have blocks of concentration of up to 30 minutes, followed by short 5-minute breaks.
Using a watch to track performance helps to to keep you focused, While the certainty of an upcoming break helps avoid unnecessary pauses. Ideally, don't use your cell phone for this, as checking the time might distract you with a notification.
10. Use the environment only for studying.
Keep something very important in mind: the study space should only be used for that purpose. Do not use it for resting, playing with pets, or watching TV.
television, playing video games, or listening to music.
By doing this, you create an opening for distraction and procrastination whenever you deal with denser and more complex content—precisely what cannot happen. Therefore, cultivate the habit of seeing this corner as a sacred space where the only permitted activity is studying to improve your knowledge.
11. Make your study space your own.
You can personalize your chosen space by making small changes. For example, if you enjoy growing plants, it's a good idea to have some species in the area, such as succulents or small cacti.
Another possibility is to place a chalkboard next to the desk to make your study schedule clearly visible, listing... organization apps and attach reminders of tasks and activities. Without a doubt, this will make the room's decor more modern.
12. Invest in motivational quotes.
When choosing decor for your study space, how about including some motivational phrases? Think about quotes, songs, and other sayings that keep you motivated to pursue your goals.
At times, the routine and volume of study material can be discouraging. Therefore, having a decor that helps maintain focus on studies is a great tip. It's also worth using images that remind you of your studies. goals.
13. Detach yourself from your cell phone.
Without a doubt, cell phones are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to staying focused on the material. Therefore, practice detachment. Imagine that your study space is one of those places where keeping your phone turned on is prohibited—like during the ENEM exam, where a candidate can be disqualified if their phone rings.
If you need to be available for potential emergencies, set up the "Do Not Disturb" function to receive only truly relevant notifications, but keep your phone away from your desk. Doing this will make it harder to get distracted.
With simple and quick steps, you can set up a practical and efficient study space at home. Therefore, follow all of them and create an environment that benefits your learning, reduces distractions that affect your concentration, and continuously contributes to improving your performance.
Are you preparing for college entrance exams and want tips to do well in college? Then download our e-book now! 10 suggestions to optimize your graduation..