Starting college is a big step in one’s life.
For a lot of students, it involves leaving home, living on their own, potentially moving to another city, and being swamped with various school obligations.
In the beginning, it can be a big change and some individuals find it hard to get accustomed to their new way of life.
Seeing as how, for most students, the point of college is getting good grades and graduating on time, being able to study and fulfill all assignments is vital. However, some people find it hard to adjust to their new dorm environment as they are used to studying in their bedroom at home or in the school library.
Perhaps you’re finishing high school and will find yourself in this situation in the near future and are looking for some tricks to ensure your study sessions will be productive. Maybe you’re already a student but, for some reason, your study sessions are not successful and you need a few hacks that will help you improve.
No matter your circumstances, listed below are some useful tips on how you can adapt your study space and keep those grades high.
Talk to your roommate about your schedule and boundaries
While not all students have to live in a dorm and with a roommate, most of them do. Therefore, if you plan on applying for a door room, you need to be prepared for potential issues.
Chances are very high that you will not know the person you are rooming with, but it is very important that you are good at communicating with each other.
More often than not, you will be on different schedules and studying when they have someone over or when they are listening to music will be very difficult.
Ask your roommate to let you know when they plan on inviting people so that you can plan and properly prepare for your tests; also, inform them when you have a big exam coming up and would appreciate some boundaries and quiet time.
Therefore, coordinating and planning your study sessions will be the first step towards having a pleasant study area.
Find the right layout
Your ability to do this will depend on your dorm room rules and your roommate’s willingness to cooperate. First of all, you will need to see which pieces of furniture your school provides and whether they can be moved around the room.
Then, see whether you can get some pieces on your own that will fit in the room and talk to your roommate about your preferences. For example, if both of you like working near the window, move the desks closer to natural light. If you’re easily distracted, make the desks face a wall.
In case there is not enough space, check with the resident advisor to see whether you are allowed to bunk the beds or loft them to have more storage and room to move around. Instead of free-standing bookshelves that are half-empty, find some that can be mounted on the wall and take up less space.
Make sure space is properly illuminated
Unfortunately, dorm rooms are usually not properly lit. Sure, some dorms provide their students with several sources of light but in most, there is only an overhead fixture. This is not a great solution for reading and studying.
Utilizing natural light to the max is your best option but in the scenario where you cannot move your desk close to the window or are a night owl, this might not be an option at all. In that case, you need to look into task lights that will get you through your study sessions.
Find light bulbs that imitate natural light as that will help you prevent eye strain and migraines. When studying on the computer, make sure you position it so that there is no glare on the screen and adjust the brightness. Furthermore, you will also need to consult with your roommate to see whether having the lights on while they sleep is a problem.
Keep the area tidy and organized
To boost your focus and productivity, you also need to do your best to keep your study space neat and tidy. If you have various shelves and drawers, use them to the fullest to prevent clutter on the desk surface as that might have a detrimental effect on your learning efforts.
Putting away the items that you don’t need at the moment will help you concentrate on the things in front of you. Plus, by having a designated space for each book and tool, you will find them much quicker when you need them.
Keep pens, pencils and highlighters in a cup or box where you can easily reach them. Using a shoe organizer to keep things sorted is another great hack if you don’t have enough space (or money) for a big storage cupboard.
On the other hand, some people thrive in organized chaos so the key here is finding the approach that works for you.
Look for clever ways to study more effectively
Regardless of how well kept and organized your space is, everyone can use some tips when it comes to better studying habits. Of course, if your methods work, there is no need to make any changes. Still, here are some ideas to consider.
For instance, you can hang up a chalkboard or a whiteboard to always have an overview of your schedule. By writing everything down, you will have the big picture of what you have to deal within the next few days or weeks.
We mentioned highlighters already, so if you are not using them to the fullest, try color-coding your subjects or lessons. Finally, some people learn better when there is music or TV noise in the background. Seeing as how you don’t want to bother your roommate, you should get quality headphones.
Get rid of distractions
Additionally, living in a dorm can be very noisy and besides headphones, you might need to implement other ways of getting rid of distractions. If you don’t need music and prefer silence, you should get a couple of earplugs so that other people can’t bother you.
Plus, when studying, lock your door if possible and put a sign on the door that lets people know not to disturb you as you are preparing for a big test. Then, if you are always checking your phone and going online, you need to look for ways to curb this habit.
If you cannot control it, install an app that will keep you off social media and YouTube for a certain period of time. Use the internet only for learning and research.
Lastly, keep all the things you need nearby so that you don’t have to get up and stop studying while you search for the item in question. If you like to snack when studying, keep some at arm’s reach as well.
Get the right desk and chair for yourself
Most college dorms will provide you with a desk and chair but if you have any specific needs, you might have to get them on your own. Before you make any purchases, talk to your school to see whether they can accommodate your requirements.
However, maybe you’d like a height-adjustable desk because you sometimes find it easier to do your homework or study while standing and other times while sitting. Perhaps the desk you were given does not offer enough storage or has some other issues you cannot work with. Luckily, there is a wide variety of desks you can choose from to optimize your learning sessions.
other valuable tips:
Furthermore, the chair plays a big role as well. If you need a swivel chair that is easily adjusted and moved around, you might have to get one for yourself. In case you are afraid that the wheels might damage the floor or carpet in your dorm room, you should look into quality plastic chair mats that will help prevent wear and tear.
Conclusion
As you can see, studying in a dorm room is not that different from studying at home. You probably already have a way to block out all distractions and stay on top of your assignments, now you just need to adapt them.
lus, by consulting with your roommate and resident advisor, you might be able to move the furniture in your room around so that it fits your habits better. Keep the area organized, properly illuminate it and find the best furniture for your needs and you will have no problem passing all your exams. Good luck!
Image Credit: study space by envato.com
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