Finding your Study Spot

Hi everyone! With the semester gearing up and getting more and more jam-packed, I wanted to talk to you all about finding your study spot on campus, in your room, or at home. As simple as this is, finding a place to read a book, it is almost a make-it-or-break-it component to your scholastic life. Here are my tricks of the trade when it comes to finding your sweet spot!

Figure out your ideal time of day! Every student has an ideal time when they are their most productive, so channel that time to make your study spot ideal. Some students, they focus best in the early mornings, some in the afternoon, and some at 2am. Everyone is different, so make sure you are doing what is best for you!

Pick your distraction level! You may be one of those people who love being around people and study best when you're surrounded by others, or you may be someone who can have zero distractions while studying, reading, and writing. Because of that, you need to find a place that fits that need. In a library, usually the higher you go (number of floors), the quieter it will be. If you are working on the main floor of the library or student center, you will get a lot of traffic for people trying to print things, order food at the cafe, or chat with others. Also,  different areas will have different distraction levels at different times of day.

Examine your comfort level! Again, depending on your personality and what you need, you have to find your level of comfort when it comes to writing papers and studying for exams. This could be wearing sweatpants and not having showered in a day or it could be that you need to be freshly showered with jeans and a nice top on. It could also be the type of chair or couch you could be sitting on while studying. Find out what works best for you by trying a bunch of different surroundings.

Make sure you bring everything you need! This goes without saying, but make sure you have all you need when studying. A study spot won't be a productive place for you if you can't get work done because you forgot something. Whether it is your computer charger, a highlighter, a notebook, your flashdrive, and your textbooks, make sure you have what you need so you don't waste a ton of time going back and forth from your room to your study spot. Don't forget to bring a snack and some water or juice to keep your energy up!

If it is not working, switch it up! Your study spot does not need to be the same for each of your classes. When I was in undergrad, I had one spot in the library where I wrote papers, there was my Res Life Office where I worked on extra-curricular projects, and then on my bed I read for all of my classes. Each of these study/work spots worked perfectly for what I needed to do in them. When something wasn't working or I needed inspiration, I would try a different classroom or a different computer in the library.

Overall, surviving academic life in high school and in college is essential and finding a great study spot for yourself can really help you achieve your goals. Once you have it figured out, definitely try to keep it up and don't sway, unless it is not helping you be productive. Productivity is the name of the game when it comes to studying and working on homework! For myself, I love to read for class at a specific spot in our library in the mornings or on my bed when I am home on the weekends. Everyone is different, so make sure you are doing what is best for you and if you have a great spot for studying now, feel free to comment below! I'd love to hear!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar