How to Create a Productive Study Environment in a World Full of Distractions

No matter how focused and capable you are of abstracting from distractions, they influence your overall productivity and efficiency at work or study. A distraction-free environment is a must for successful and stressless study sessions.

But here's the problem:

Only some have an opportunity to eliminate all interruptions and create a happy place for studying. Overloaded with tasks and academic responsibilities, students experience constant pressure to succeed and fail to organize their workspace and time. Productivity and academic performance suffer, and they choose to address a cheap pricing essay writing service for assistance. That's fine, but what if we told you it's not hard to set up a productive study environment and deal with distractions?

Here's how.

Choose a Proper Place

In the ideal world, it would be a separate study room, quiet, free from people traffic, and with minimum noise and interruptions. If you have an opportunity to organize such a room, great! If you don't, think of the corresponding corner in your house or apartment. Where is the place with minimum traffic and noise? It can be a living room or some Harry Potter-style cupboard under the stairs. Consider it for creating a study space there.

Important:

Separate this study environment from your relaxation area in the house. This trick will help "cheat" your brain and make it associate a particular place with work. A separate area will signal to it that it's study time, so you'll be more focused and productive when sitting there.

Lighting is also critical.

Daylight helps us remain more active and focused, so do your best to move your study area to a window and deal with the tasks during the day. If your environment or schedule doesn't make it possible, consider lamps with proper lighting: Cold white light colors (3500-4000K) stimulate the brain, while warm color temperatures (2700-3000K) are relaxing and not conducive to concentrating on work.

Double Down on Comfort

A well-organized space reduces mental clutter and encourages you to focus for better productivity. Ensure that you work at a table, not on a sofa (no matter how comfortable), and sit at an ergonomic chair to support your lower back. Keep your study area tidy, and put a houseplant on or near the table:

According to the study, green plants in a room reduce stress and can improve productivity and concentration by up to 47%. Also, ensure you have all the necessary study tools and resources within easy reach. Bring a bookshelf with maps, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference books and guides to facilitate studies and minimize distractions.

Hang a calendar to keep track of tasks and mark all the deadlines. Make your study area look like a happy place that motivates you and where you want to spend time:

Decorate it with elements that inspire you. It can be a photo of your dearest on the table, a poster with your favorite cartoon or movie character, a card with an inspiring quote, a toy, or colorful supplies like stickers, markers, notebooks, etc.

Eliminate Digital Distractions

Or, you could try to minimize them. Digital devices are often major time eaters for most students: Notifications distract, enticing us to give up work to check emails, messengers, or the latest news on social media. To combat this, turn off your phone during study sessions or turn off all the notifications. Also, use website blockers to limit access to distracting resources and enforce your digital discipline.

Consider Noise-Canceling Tools

Background noise disrupts concentration and influences productivity. If you're sensitive to it and want to study in complete silence but can't organize it in your study environment, consider using noise-canceling headphones. They can also signal to your roommates or family members that you're busy so they can't make loud noises or disturb you while you have those headphones on.

If you're okay with background music while studying, consider soothing and melodic compositions without lyrics: They help focus and make study sessions more enjoyable.

Set Rules

Establish a study routine to signal your brain that it's time to focus and work. Schedule specific study times daily, incorporate regular breaks into that schedule to prevent fatigue, and use a timer for self-organization. Remember the oldy-moldy Pomodoro Technique? Study for a set period (30-40 minutes) and take a short break (10-15 minutes) to engage in activities that help you recharge: grab a snack, take a walk, or do some physical exercises like stretching or squats.

Endnote

A distraction-free study environment can boost concentration and productivity and positively influence academic performance. Try the strategies described in this article to organize and maintain a cozy and comfortable workspace; the result won't be long in coming.