We have reached the point in the school year that is awkwardly in the middle of the first few weeks, and midterms. We are beginning to reach the point in time where homework and studying are starting to become just a little more stressful. With that being said, it’s the perfect time to establish a comfortable place to get your studying done.
You may think you’ve already found the perfect place for studying, but I’d encourage you to experiment with different locations, to be sure you’re maximizing your efficiency! Do you like background noise, music, or dead silence? Is having a pretty view too distracting, or is it the perfect thing to make studying less boring? Are you able to work with friends productively, or are you unable to focus then?
There are so many combinations of how you can use your study time, but this is all about finding your favorite one, where you can get the most work done.
Your dorm room
This one can be tricky. Some people can’t stand to do homework in their dorm room, whether it’s because their roommate is facetiming their significant other for the fifth time in one day, or because they have the easy option of taking a study break to watch Netflix. Studying in your dorm could provide a variety of distractions that will tempt your mind to wander and decrease productivity. However, it seems like the easiest thing to do; you don’t have to go looking for study places, you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything, and you can be uber comfortable as you sit on your futon and type out an essay!
Even if this feels like a great option for you, I would still highly recommend checking out a few other places on campus (or maybe some off-campus). You have been training your body to relax and take it easy in your room–maybe take a nap, maybe watch some TV. So when it comes to productivity in your dorm room, don’t expect your maximum efficiency. A half-hour of work that isn’t very challenging may be fine, but three hours of Psychology notes is not something to be doing in your dorm.
The campus library
Personally, I’ve found the library to be my favorite place to do homework on campus (so far). Most campus libraries have a few different floors, with different noise levels on each floor. For group projects or group study sessions, the main level (the loudest level) is a great place to work. Really, where else would you work on a group project besides the library? It’s probably the easiest option for everyone, especially if nobody knows each other well enough to go to someone’s residence hall or out to a more fun location.
When studying solo, the library is still a great option. If you love background noise, great! Stay on the “loud” floor, or pop in some earbuds to listen to music. If you hate it, head to one of the quieter floors. It’s quiet enough to fall asleep (which some people do!), and definitely quiet enough to crack down and get your notes done. At the library on my campus, most of the desks/tables on the quiet floors have dividers, so when you sit there you can’t be distracted by staring around the room. All you get to look at is your homework in front of you.
Outside
If you want more of a scenic view than a desk and a textbook, try studying outside! Maybe not in the middle of December (depending on where you live), but on a sunny fall day, get creative and find a picnic table, put up a hammock, or spread a blanket over the grass! It can be very relaxing to be surrounded by nature and greenery, and having natural light instead of dim dorm lightbulbs can make studying more pleasant.
There is the possibility for more distractions outside, though; if it’s a nice day, that probably means there are going to be dogs all over, and the jingling of a dog’s collar (or someone’s room key jingling resembling a dog’s collar), can be a little distracting for anyone who gets very excited about dogs (me).
Coffee shop
A coffee shop is also not a bad idea to meet for a group project, or even just to go with a group of friends to study together. It may tempt you to spend your money on a little coffee or a muffin, and on a college student’s budget (I have a friend with $12 in her bank account), that can be dangerous. But if you have some self-control and you can limit yourself to how much you’ll spend, then a coffee shop would be a very appealing environment to work. This might not be the spot for hardcore memorization, but it can be fun to have a chill study session with friends!
Study rooms in your residence hall
Your residence halls most likely have a variety of common spaces and study rooms in the building. Take advantage of them! There are usually not many people using them, and if they are being used, it’s typically still pretty empty. It’s so close to your dorm that you don’t have to leave the building, but far enough from your room that you won’t feel inclined to take naps.
You could also do some homework to pass the time while waiting for your laundry. Whether that’s in the laundry room itself or in a study room nearby, it would be a good time and place to get your stuff done. Plus, then you don’t have to check on your laundry constantly or worry about keeping it in for too long, because you’ll be there to watch it while you are productive!
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Figure out what study area works best for YOU! Use these next few weeks before midterms to explore the different areas you work best in, even if you think you’ve found your favorite already! Do what you can to maximize your efficiency. Happy studying!