There are several things you can do to increase the productivity of your study sessions aside from just studying longer. One of those things is studying in a place conducive to your productivity-- and it's not one size fits all. For some, a loud environment with a lot of movement and color (such as a dining hall) might be a perfect fit, and for others, a room like Brown's famous "Absolute Quiet Room" might be the best spot.
Here are some things to consider when you choose where to study. Try out both sides of each scale to see what works best for you.
Consideration #1: Noise level
There are really three noise levels to consider testing out if you don't already know what kind of noise level you are looking for: absolutely quiet, minimal noise, conversational to loud. Absolutely quiet spaces are mainly found in libraries or created at home. If any amount of noise distracts you, these spots are for you. Minimal noise environments include relaxed cafes, parks, or building lobbies. These spots are my personal favorite because they balance my inability to focus in complete silence with my inability to focus amidst conversations I can overhear. The lobbies of buildings where I later had class were some of my favorite study spots in college. Conversational noise environments include your average cafe or restaurant, a dining hall, or a dorm lounge.
Consideration #2: Seating
It's been said that studying while in your bed trains your body to associate your bed with being awake, and thus can disrupt your sleep cycles. Instead of studying in bed, consider what makes you feel most awake and productive. For some people, an uncomfortable chair keeps them awake and alert. Others cannot focus in any amount of discomfort. For me, the perfect study seat is a comfy chair in which I am fully upright but cushioned. If I lay down, the odds of me falling asleep increase tenfold.
Consideration #3: Time of day
Past 9:00 pm, I will not be able to focus or retain much material. For me, early morning or after lunch are the times I feel most awake and thus, more able to focus. Consider this when making your class schedule: when do you feel most apt to study and be productive?
Consideration #4: Other people
Some people will find that being around friends encourages them to "lock in" and focus-- others will simply fall into conversations should the opportunity present itself. For me, having a friend take my phone and hold onto it until I complete a task is helpful to control my attention span. That being said, I can't resist chit-chatting sometimes, so I usually recommend a pre-study yap session.
Consideration #5: Proximity
In college, you'd never catch me walking more than 10 minutes to a study spot. Sometimes, I'd just go down the hallway of my dorm to a cozy nook or lounge to sit, especially when the weather was bad outside. If you can't focus in your dorm room, try a little further down the hall. If your dorm building feels too associated with relaxing, try a nearby building. Some people need the distance from spaces associated with relaxing, so perhaps a venture further across campus will switch the mode in your brain.
How to find a place once you know what you are looking for
Other than picking a place on campus or asking friends for recommendations, we recommend Study Near Me, a free resource for finding places that are study-friendly near you.
