Last Updated on September 6, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
There comes a point in every student’s life when procrastination reaches a critical level and there’s no other way than to lock yourself up and start absorbing all those pilled up lessons you need to learn for your exam.
If you’re about to spend a few days with nothing but your books and papers for company, comfort is of paramount importance for an uninterrupted and efficient workflow.
Since you probably don’t have too much time on your hands to make preparations and large scale adjustments, here are a few interior design tips so you can spend as much time as it takes to be at your best during the exam.
Work desk
You should position your desk close to a source of light and fresh air. See that the sunlight doesn’t interfere with your computer screen or go directly into your eyes if possible. If not, use your blinders to protect yourself when needed. It’s important to have a constant flow of fresh air because oxygen helps our brain process information and improves our memory performance.
Another important aspect of your workspace configuration is to have your desk organized so that everything you need is within your reach. Keep your most important notes and literature at hand, as well as some water or snacks, depending on your personal requirements. Don’t overstock your desk with too many resources, especially those that you don’t need at all times.
Keep your workspace organized so you don’t have to spend too much time looking through a bunch of papers all huddled in one incoherent pile. Let your notes be on one side, separate from literary resources and other papers. Also, keep your pencils, markers, and other materials staked separately and within your reach; it’s not OCD, the Japanese call that Kaizen.
Bookshelf
The position of your bookshelf mainly depends on the volume of your library, however, it’s best to place it next to a wall opposite of where your desk is laid. This allows you to drop your gaze across the room in front of you and search for the book you need without getting up from your seat. Once you locate the book you need, you could just get up and take it instead of standing on your feet while browsing. Remember, the name of the game is comfort, so we have to do whatever it takes to minimize all kinds of effort.
Also, keep your books organized by category and within every category place your books in alphabetical order. This way you’ll have your literature organized for the most efficient search process. As a student, you probably have a mountain of books related to all sorts of subjects, which makes strict categorization extremely important. If organizing your library is taking time from your homework or some other college assignment, you could search online for a reliable service to pay for essay writing, literary research, or some other academic work. After all, you’ll set up your bookshelf just once and then just keep following the suite.
Make space
Taking a walk helps our mind relax and release the excess pressure that builds up while we’re studying. Just like our muscles feel the tension of physical exercise, our brain also accumulates stress when we put it to work for too long. Leaving our room to take a short walk is not practical for several reasons.
First of all, it takes time to get ready to leave the house, then there’s the matter of weather conditions, we can’t go out for a walk if there’s a storm outside or the temperature is extremely below freezing.
Therefore, it’s best to make a lot of space in your room so you could walk around when you feel the need or dance around to some music during the break. This will make you feel less stressed and allow you to maintain your focus on the work at hand. Besides, tripping over a coffee table while going to make yourself a sandwich won’t help your academic endeavors.
Another reason why you should keep only the most necessary pieces of furniture in your study is to avoid distractions. This goes for paintings and posters on the wall, they can distract you from your task and cause a loss of your precious time.
The choice of colors
Do you feel relaxed when you’re sitting out in the forest or feasting your eyes on endless green meadows? There’s a reason for this and it’s been known to scientists for a long time now. According to psychologists, colors can affect our state of mind in great measure. For instance, the green color has a soothing effect on our mind. The same color is also responsible for enhanced focus and concentration, which is of utmost importance for an efficient learning process.
A study was published recently showing the diverse effects of colors on our body and mind. The results have shown that both physical and mental activities show higher results when conducted in an environment where the green color is dominant. On the opposite side, red color increases our heart rate and has the ability to distract us from our current task.
It’s up to you to decide if you’re going to paint your walls in a calming shade of green or decide to have your furniture radiate with natural colors that won’t irritate or distract you.
Conclusion
A comfortable study space allows us to focus on our work and avoid unnecessary distractions. Your room should also be designed so that it contributes to the effectiveness of your learning process.
Make sure you have all your studying resources close by and keep your light, airflow, and temperature at an optimal level. It’s also a smart decision to prevent social media notifications from distracting you so silent your communication devices and temporarily block access to websites like Facebook until you’re ready to leave your room.
Author Bio:
James Collins is a freelance content writer engaged with a number of academic writing services and several online publishers. His work is based on in-depth research and authentic resources that provide practical and applicable information. As a writer, James tends to help his readers in search of self-improvement and professional excellence.