The Importance of a Good Study Environment

‍

‍Wanting to achieve maximum productivity and wondering how to create a study environment? Keep reading and find out exactly what to do!

‍‍

A good study environment is at the forefront of productivity and focus. No matter what field you’re studying, from pre-med to liberal arts, there’s no doubt paying attention to your study environment can make all the difference.

While studying, we’re required to learn large quantities of information, and we’re faced with an internal struggle for the willpower to do so. 

What if there was a hack to get your brain laser-focused to get things done like you never thought before? While you may never achieve the seamless work ethic of that keener in the front row with their hand up every class, there are ways to make things as easy as possible for yourself.

What Is the Importance of a Good Study Environment?

The importance of a good study environment is simple. It prepares your brain and cognitive resources for the task at hand to the best of your abilities. A poor study environment can deplete your morale and focus and negatively affect your mood.

More importantly, if you ever find your studies overwhelming and causing stress, anxiety, or even depression, a poor study environment could be the culprit. Over time, you may feel burnt out, as if studying is a huge chore that drains you.

Fighting your conscious mind is futile in this case. When your brain recognizes an environment for novelty and recreation, forcing it to try to focus deeply will only frustrate you. A good study environment is important because it lets you study on autopilot and makes getting that 4.0 GPA much easier.

How to Create a Great Study Environment

Our experts have determined some of the most cutting-edge approaches to making a good study environment that works for you. Pay attention to each, and fine-tune any to your situation to build better habits.

Here are seven tips on how to create a study environment for you.

1. Use LED Lights

LED lights have a cooler color temperature than fluorescent lights. Some evidence suggests that blue light can keep you alert and performing to the best of your abilities. Although studying outdoors may offer similar benefits, this isn’t always practical for many people. 

Make sure to keep your study space well-lit with many lights. Studying in the dark can make you less sharp and feel drowsy. So, while warm and dim fluorescent lights may be nice for a romantic dinner, it’s probably best to leave them out of the study room.

2. Experiment With Colored Noise

While most people consider noise distracting, not all noise is created equal. Too often, while studying, we’re subject to sounds and distractions that break our focus. Noise colors refer to the frequency spectrum they’re focused in. Some popular colors include white, brown, and pink. 

Whether you long for the calming sounds of waterfalls or deep airplane ambiance, the colors of noise can fit your study environment. Perhaps the sounds you’re subjected to are high-pitched chatter or a muffled dog barking through the window. Each flavor of noise can mask distractors that overlap in the frequency spectrum.

3. Study Beside Nature

Even though studying outdoors may be impractical, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage during quick small breaks. Nature therapy is a different approach to managing stress and anxiety. Simply put, people weren’t meant to clock in hour after hour in stuffy desks and cubicles. A good study environment is one you look forward to being in.

Having scenic parks and floral gardens may be just the stimulation you need to refresh yourself after another drawn-out chapter about Pythagoras and his triangles. The ability to engage all sensory perceptions can clear your head.

Suppose committing to a mini voyage during your breaks gives you shivers of procrastination-induced panic. Bring nature to you by studying by a window or investing in a nice house plant for your desk.

4. Keep a Journal Nearby

A journal may seem old school and archaic in this day and age. But we’re not talking about a little diary to scribble unrequited love letters to your school crush. No, this journal should act as a second brain of sorts.

The benefits and different approaches to journaling are endless. You want to free up as much cognitive resources as possible. So, when something comes to mind, jot it down. If you come across an idea while studying and want to add to it, expand on it a little in your writing. A journal can be an invaluable resource in a good study space.

This open scripting of thoughts can make you feel less anxious and stressed about studying. You can make study checklists and even record mnemonic techniques you think of. Use a journal so your brain isn’t overflowing with tertiary thoughts.

5. Bust Out Some Music

If studying to colored noise doesn't sound like a perfect Wednesday afternoon, don’t worry. There’s good reason to believe your favorite tunes may be a good alternative.

Music can help boost your motivation when you’re feeling down about finally carrying your team through another uncoordinated disaster of a group project. The effects on mood and emotion can be catered to each subject and how you feel on different days. Adapting it to each situation is part of the importance of a good study environment.

Keep in mind the type of music matters. While blasting out another blistering-fast Herbie Hancock solo may energize you, listening to calming keys of Erik Satie may help you focus better. 

6. Grab That Alarm Clock

While a well-timed nap may be something we’re all looking forward to, that’s not what we’re using the alarm clock for. A common study technique is the Pomodoro method. Using an alarm clock to set your study sessions fully immerses you in the task. Try 25 minutes and take a break.

More often than not, students engage in pseudo-study sessions where interruptions are “sort of bad” but not entirely prohibited. You don’t need to make yourself available to everyone 24/7.

Continuous distractions make tasks take longer and make you less efficient. It may be difficult to believe, but trying to study while waiting for any ping or notification like a squirrel chock-full of Redbull might make your life harder than it needs to be. Focus is like a muscle that you build over time.

7. Leave That Mess On Your Desk

Peak productivity often conjures images of perfection: not a pencil left out of place and an oak desk basking in the light of a third-story solarium. Turns out that’s not always the best, and maybe that messy friend you have whose room always looks like a recent burglary transpired is on to something after all.

While there’s no doubt some people work best in a clean and tidy space, some research suggests that a messy environment can make us more creative. 

So, if you’re stuck on essay ideas trying to make sense of Iago’s madness in Othello, or the applications of that calculus integral aren’t making sense, it may be worthwhile to change things up a bit.

If you’re a neat freak and the thought of messing up your space makes you recoil, you can always try to study in a different room. At any rate, pay attention to how the space you’re in affects your mood, clarity, and focus. An overly-tidy room may make you feel uninspired. Also, having a few knick-knacks may help you concentrate.

FAQs: The Impact of a Good Study Environment

Still wondering about the importance of a good study environment? Our frequently asked questions have everything you need to know!

1. Why Is a Good Study Area Important?

A good study environment eliminates distractions and gives you uninterrupted time to focus on tasks. Throughout the day, we’re overwhelmed with all kinds of responsibilities. Having a specific space dedicated to your studies can make you mentally prepared to absorb information most effectively.

2. What Are the Characteristics of a Good Study Environment?

A good study environment has everything you need to be able to focus. It should be well-lit and free of any distractions. You should be able to record your thoughts, plan  time to study, and avoid checking social media or messages.

3. How Will a Good Study Space Help You in Studying?

A good study environment helps you operate as effectively as possible and lets you use your cognitive resources where they matter. With the right environment, studying feels less like a chore and more rewarding. It can also make studying for tests and preparing for the SAT and ACT much easier.

Using the right tips and strategies early means that you’ll be well-prepared when it comes time for college.

Final Thoughts

While you may need to race out and implement all the tips we’ve shared, there’s no need to do everything simultaneously. How to create a study environment is a personal and ongoing process. Over time, you may feel you’d like to make modifications and experiment by changing different aspects of your space.

Always remember to find what works for you. Some people find the ambiance of coffee shops helps them focus, while others prefer solitary spaces. Different subjects and assignments work best in unique settings. At any rate, a good study space is one that you don’t need to think about all that much, and that lets you get studying.