Where should I study?

A traditional business phrase suggests that “there are three things that matter in real estate: location, location, location.” The same thing could be said about studying. Whether you’re trying to read a textbook, write an essay, or study for a test, where you choose to study can make the difference between success and failure. Here we’ll analyze three different things to consider when you choose where to study.

1. Environment:

Your atmosphere can either contribute or detract from a successful learning environment. Noise can undermine a good learning experience. Try finding a quiet place, perhaps one with minimal background noise to prevent the silence from becoming a distraction. Generally, listening to music is distracting, even if it is soothing. One possible exception is soft, wordless music, which, depending on your personality, can help you stay focused and motivated.

Your surroundings can also interfere with your concentration. If it’s too hot or cold, your attention will not remain focused on your studies. Also, if you study in your bedroom (or any other room of your apartment), make sure it is clean first. A disorganized atmosphere leads to disorganized thoughts. Whatever you do, don’t study while lying down in bed, or you’ll soon find yourself snoozing on your textbooks.

2. Technology:

Have you ever sat down to begin doing your homework, but you decided to check your email first? If you’re anything like me, a few hours later, you will have read all your new emails, posted something on Facebook, Facebook stalked your crush, sent a few text messages, played a quick round of Angry Birds, checked Facebook again to see how many likes you got, read your friend’s blog, checked out the news, watched a couple of YouTube videos, and exhausted the “Random Article” option on Wikipedia, just for fun, but you still won’t have gone over the material. Technology can be a great asset when you’re studying, but it can also be a major distraction. If you need to use the internet to study, make sure you stay focused. If not, try going somewhere where you won’t get Wi-Fi (I personally like the west side of the JFSB basement). Regardless, always turn your phone off when you need to focus on your studies.

3. People:

There’s “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). If you study surrounded by active or noisy people, you’re going to get distracted. The Cougareat is a busy place; the library is much calmer. You’re much more likely to get things done in the latter than the former. While friends can provide support to motivate us to keep working, more often they unintentionally distract us from the task at hand. When you pick a place to study, choose one where roommates, friends, family members, and strangers won’t take our minds off your responsibilities.

Conclusion:

While all people have different study needs, each person should be able to find a location where they can reach optimal concentration. Before the next time you study, try finding a place with a good environment, where technology won’t be a distraction, and where other people won’t disrupt you.