A guide on where to study

I’ve never been one of those people who can study just anywhere. My surroundings are directly related to how much work I do, and factors like sound and light are important. A room should be quiet but not too quiet. White noise is good, one singular source of noise (e.g. a TV in an otherwise silent room) is bad. Similarly, natural light is good, fluorescents lighting is bad. It has taken me more than 6 years of studying to figure out which spaces work the best for me, and to be honest, it still changes from time to time. But in the hopes of saving some of you a lot of time trying to find the suitable study environment, I’ve compiled a list of my top study spots.

A café

Now, let me be clear. Not all cafés are suitable for studying, in fact, I’d say most are unsuitable. Some are too small, too busy, or too loud, and therefore it can be hard to settle in for a longer period of time, if that’s your intention. It’s really a process of trial and error, but when you do find that one perfect spot, the results are magical. I can personally testify that some of my best and most efficient work has been done inside a café, with the hum of vacant chatter in the background and the scent of coffee in the air. Start with the cafés that are local to you or have a look at images on Google or Instagram to see what spots might tick all the boxes. If you strike gold, I guarantee it’ll be worth the effort.

On campus

For me, studying alone is the only way to get things done, and this means basically avoiding contact with human life. I’ve found that by studying in a building that belongs to your faculty, you’re bound to run into people you know and get distracted, until all of a sudden 3 hours have gone by and you haven’t opened your laptop yet. I now avoid this by venturing elsewhere on campus to buildings belonging to other faculties. These are the places where I don’t typically see any familiar faces and am therefore able to settle into a focused working rhythm.

At home

Unfortunately, most of us aren’t lucky enough to have private offices or grand libraries in our homes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a space that feels comfortable conducive to focusing. My bedroom is where my desk and all my materials are, but when studying at home I prefer to move the things I need somewhere else in the house to curb any feelings of cabin fever. By taking my laptop and just the things I need to the dining room, when it comes time to unwind at the end of the day and I return to my bedroom, it doesn’t feel as though I’ve been cooped up all day in one spot. This has helped me to create some distance between my work life and home life, which is really essential for students and those who work from home.

The library

Libraries are a great place to study. They’re quiet and have just the right amount of background noise that allows me to think in peace without getting distracted. There’s also just something very scholarly about studying in a library that makes me feel like a better student than I really am. I’d recommend testing a few out. Start with the libraries on your campus, and if that’s no good, try one of the larger city libraries or the smaller libraries around your local suburbs.