When you study in an organized atmosphere, you’ll feel better about the material you are learning — and you’ll be more productive. Our environments are draining on our minds, so when our aesthetic is on point, we’ll have more mental energy available for focussed work. Most students go back to their cluttered dorm to get work done, and that just isn’t conducive to a great study session. You need a quiet, clean space to peak study — like what you would see in a fancy office.
If your annoying roommate is always in your dorm, of if you struggle to stay super cleanly, bring your office with you. Organize your backpack and the materials you bring with you to class. Clean the grime off your laptop screen, and reduce file clutter. Throw out the 3-ring binder and the folders that are falling apart. Bring two excellent pens, and a high quality notebook: bring with you to class what you want to use. You’ll rarely need to transcribe your professor, so you want your working environment to let you write the best notes you can, drawings and all.
There are so many beautiful environments and notes to learn from on #studygram 🤤
The other sensory cues also matter! It’s pretty hard to study with Spotify’s Top 50, so you should explore new genres. There are awesome study playlists on Spotify that will help you set the right vibe. If you’re sick of the same songs on loop, check out live mixes on YouTube. There are so many live or hour-long Chillstep, Lofi Hip Hop, and Electronic mixes — and they’re free to stream. It’s worth giving Classical a shot too: put some essential oils in a diffuser and jump right into the perfect mode.
Another favorite for a lot of students is drinking tea. Many of my friends would drink a 30oz coffee before attempting to study — but that’s almost never a good idea. You’ll be more fidgety and far less productive when you consume high-caffeine drinks like coffee or soda. Drink a mild caffeinated tea to help yourself stay focused, without the jitters. If you’re out and about, your campus coffee shop will surely have cheap tea bags, or a ready-to-go hot tea. For your dorm, it’s a great investment to get an electric kettle: they heat water super quickly, and will help you save a bunch of money.
Your notebooks and working area are perfectly organized, your lighting is just right, and your lofi hip hop & chai tea has got you down-to-study. Now it’s time to be strategic with your time. One of the most effective techniques for studying is following the Pomodoro Method. A Pomodoro entails doing 25 minutes of work, followed by 5 minutes of rest. Stand up, stretch, grab more water. Each Pomodoro can be a focussed small task, like studying your notes for one chapter, or completing a section of problem sets. After 4 or 5 Pomodoros, take a longer 30 minute break. Grab a Pomodoro app to make the process smoother.
Sitting down for 3 hours, distraction free, is difficult. Sometimes the best thing to do for a 5 minute break is to take a walk outside and reset. Every break will make you that much more productive when you jump back into the books. Happy studying!
— Suki
