Creating an effective study space - no matter where you are!

Looking for a study routine that works with the space you have and not against it? Our creative and super-organised Company Manager, Cheryl, has created a practical guide that helps you craft a study space that works wherever you are!

Personally, I like to study in a public library or university study space, which gives me access to all the research materials I need to buckle down and start cramming!. But if you don’t live in a city where these amenities are easily accessible or where spaces are generally open later, like in the evenings, your options can be much more limited.

Fear not! Although studying at home isn’t always ideal, you can still build a solid setup no matter what your living situation looks like. We’ve got lots of ideas to for you to try:

Studying in a room share situation?

Even if you can’t control everything around you, it’s important to design a setup that makes the most of the space you do have, while keeping peace with the other occupants of your room.

• Claim a study zone or corner of the room with everyone’s consent and invest in a folding table set up, if space is an issue.

• Set boundaries (kindly!). Sometimes all it takes is an honest conversation with the other person and developing a schedule that works for everyone. Another way to keep the peace, could be to agree to a signal system which lets all parties know when study time is and what that can look like (a do not disturb sign, or whiteboard).

• Buy good earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones if the room just isn’t quiet enough for complete concentration.

Need a study area in a studio living space?

When you’re only a few steps away from your bed, from the fridge, and from every comfort you could indulge in, discipline is a key step to turning your home into a focused study zone.

• Divide the room - even mentally, if it’s a tight squeeze! Carving out different ‘zones’ in your studio will help you keep to routine and will help you to snap into different modes, like ‘study mode’ or ‘sleep mode’. A curtain, shelf, or different lighting (like a desk lamp) for different areas can help make the spaces feel purposeful.

• Hone your study habits by consulting our blog here!

• Resist temptation. Namely, stay away from the bed (ask me how I know!). If you must use your bed, try to sit up properly and use a lap desk so a quick snooze doesn’t sneak its way into your studying time.

Constantly on the move and need a portable study setup?

It’s not uncommon for many students to split time between households: whether that’s between mum or dad’s or between university accommodation and your home base outside of term time. Consistency can be tough, which is why a mobile setup offers the most flexibility.

• Customise your own ‘Go-Bag’, just like how some people have their own gym bag! When you’re next on the move, you can just pick it up and have peace of mind knowing that everything is in one place. Items you can pop in your bag can include textbooks, chargers, your planner, or any other essential you need to study.

• Pop everything on one Cloud Storage so you don’t have to rely on multiple portable devices. There are many free options out there to choose from, like Google Docs. That way, you don’t have to worry about risking losing an essay or important worksheet. If your documents are physical, take a quick snap and save it as an image for easy access.

• Scout the quiet times and pay attention to when the location you are in is calmer. Perhaps everyone is off to work early mornings or engaging in extracurricular activities a couple of weekday afternoons. Sometimes it’s not the spot, but the time that makes the biggest difference!

• Drown out the noise by using apps which broadcast white noise or go on your favourite music streaming platform and find an instrumental or ‘focus’ playlist that sets you up for an outstanding study session.

Keeping an open mindset will be your key to success. Successful studying isn’t about social media-worthy desks or expensive gadgets, it’s about carving out a space which effectively tells your brain to hit the books! Making your setup personal, but simple is what will help you ace your exams!

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Blog Post Crafted by Cheryl

Cheryl manages our Admin Team, and is a qualified teacher with 5 years' experience in schools across England and Canada.

Cheryl graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Education. She tutored secondary school students in English for over nine years in Canada.

Cheryl speaks Cantonese, English and French, and in her spare time, she can be found illustrating and reading children’s books for inspiration.