Last Updated on September 9, 2020 by Kimberly Crawford
According to research conducted by the National Survey of Student Engagement, the average time that students spend on studying is 17 hours per week. That’s about 2.5 hours of continuous studying per day.
It may not sound like too much time to spend in a library on a daily basis. But it is. You’re not always able to go to the library. Maybe you have to study in the middle of the night. When it’s too cold outside, walking to and from the library doesn’t seem appealing.
You’ll do yourself a huge favor by designing a room that blends a bedroom and a studying space in one. It will instantly get you in focus mode. You’ll be able to study on your own terms, in your preferred time.
How to Design a Room for Studying: 5 Decisions to Make
1. Choose Relaxing, Yet Stimulating Colors
Colors play a crucial role to the entire setup. Plain walls are boring and uninspiring. They don’t make you fall in love with the space. You won’t spend a huge amount of money on paint. You can invite a friend to help you paint the space, and you’ll return the favor when they decide to work on their own space.
The colors should be calming, yet stimulating. How will you achieve that? Green, yellow, red, and orange tones will stimulate your creativity. However, they may be too loud to use in the entire space. It’s best to balance them out with muted neutrals, which will bring balance to the space.
2. Get a Spacious Desk
Not enough space is the biggest reason why students fall out of focus. They take the laptop in their beds, leaning against the wall. They soon get sleepy or uncomfortable. It’s no wonder why so many students need to get help by EduBirdie tutors when they realize they’ve wasted too much time and haven’t done much work. You have to pay attention to the desk and chair; those items are essential procrastination-stoppers.
Measure the space where you can place a desk and a chair. You don’t have to invest too much in the desk. It just needs to be spacious enough to accommodate your laptop, books, and note-taking items. As for the chair, it’s best to invest in comfortable, study design. You’ll benefit by getting a deal on a high-quality second-hand office chair.
3. Organize the Space
Tidy life is a trend. Hey; Netflix made a series about it. You’ll learn a lot from Marie Kondo. A disorganized space overpowered your willpower. It creates a subconscious disruption in your focus. When you design a clean and organized environment, your mind will start adopting those characteristics as well.
Take a day to clean up the space and organize all items on the desk. After that, you’ll only need to maintain that order.
You can rely on digital manufacturing to produce a few modern items that will add character. However, placing too many decorative items around is not a good idea.
4. Develop a Habit around Your Space
The space influences your senses and puts you into focus mode. But it won’t do the studying for you. It won’t help you achieve superhuman discipline if you don’t make any effort. Your time-management skills are essential.
Learn how to love what you created! Get into a routine: plan your studying time for each day. Cover the hardest task first, so it will be easier for you to complete the remaining ones.
5. Control the Distractions
Noise-blocking headphones will help you stay focused even when your roommates are playing loud music. If music helps you stay focused, it won’t bother those around you. You won’t regret an investment in high-quality headphones.
Remember: it’s not just about the space. Put your phone on silent, so you won’t be disturbed by notifications and calls. Use Google Chrome extensions, such as StayFocusd. They will help you stay away from distracting websites when using the computer for writing or studying.
A Good Studying Space Makes a Ton of Difference
You’ll feel better about yourself when you decorate the room and keep it organized. When you create a space with an intention to use it for studying, it will influence your commitment. You’ll love the ritual: sitting in a nice chair, organizing the studying material on the spacious desk, and enjoying the vibe that you created yourself.
You won’t need a huge budget for this. Second-hand items are fine as long as they are sturdy. You’ll only need a bit of time and an inner drive to tidy up.