Just a few weeks ago, you were likely attending school in person, everyday. You walked into a classroom, sat down at your desk, and your home was likely a place of relaxation. Now, your home is both your classroom and your place of comfort. You may find yourself struggling with creating a productive study space that can serve two distinct purposes. Here are some ways to start redefining your learning environment at home:
1. Pretend you’re going to school
The mental association you have between studying and school will help you enter a productive head space. Do all the things you would if you were getting yourself ready for school everyday. Make yourself breakfast, take a shower, get dressed, or gather your school supplies into your backpack. Keeping these little habits could make all the difference in creating an effective learning environment.
2. Designate a study area
This area can be in your room or a space in your house. Experiment with different lighting and temperatures to figure out what works best for you. You want to have a place that is comfortable, but not so comfortable that you fall asleep! If studying on your bed is your only option, take breaks to stand up and move around. Create an ambiance that makes you happy! Open a window, light a candle, or display your favorite photographs in your study space.
3. Keep it quiet
Many students want background noise while they study, but experts advise against this. Keeping your environment quiet will give you the mental clarity to really concentrate on the task at hand. If you live in a noisy household, try noise cancelling headphones or negotiating quiet hours with your family. If you absolutely need noise, turn on some music and keep it at a low volume in the background.
4. Take away distractions
When creating a productive study space at home, you will want to eliminate distractions that help you procrastinate. In doing so, you will manage your time more effectively! Some students are good at tuning out their surroundings and keeping focus. Others need to take extra steps to keep distractions from creeping in. If you tend to procrastinate on your phone, there are apps that can block the websites that distract you! For more information about time management, check out these tips.
5. Stay organized
Let your study environment reflect your state of mind. When your area is clean, your mind is clear to focus on your work. If things are messy, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed or preoccupied. If you struggle to keep things organized, take a couple of minutes every day to tackle a little bit of clutter. In time, you will achieve ultimate organization!
6. Create a schedule
Map out your day, and create a routine. On the bright side of learning from home, you can do your work when you’re most productive. Decide the best time to wake up, take breaks, study, connect with friends, and so on. Creating an agenda will help you to compartmentalize each activity. That way, when you sit down to work, you know that this is your time to complete your assignments.
You should also make sure you have a definitive finishing time to end your day. Set alarms for yourself, so you know when it’s time to move on from one activity to the next. If you are having trouble sticking to your schedule, find an accountability partner! Ask your parents or siblings to help you keep to your routine.
During this time, all that matters is that you are doing your best. We hope that these tips help you tackle your studies at home with confidence. If you need a little bit of self-care after a long day of classes, check out this article!