Online study allows you to be the master of your own schedule. You save time that would ordinarily be spent commuting to a campus, plus you can structure your study around your lifestyle.
While studying from your lounge room can be great for time saving and productivity, it can sometimes be easy to fall into the trap of getting distracted by the people and things around you.
Setting up a dedicated study space in your home can be a great way to combat unnecessary distractions and allow you to immediately switch on when you sit down at your computer.
Don’t worry – you don’t have to have your own home office for this to work! It can be the end of the kitchen table or a small desk in a studio apartment – as long as you are comfortable and have a computer handy, you can make anywhere your study haven.
To help you get started we have put together our top tips for creating a productive home study space.
1. Clean up before you sit down
A cluttered workspace equals a cluttered mind. So, remove any unpaid bills or dirty dishes that have piled up in your space before you start. Not only will you feel better, but it will stop you losing important notes or other papers in the mess.
2. Switch off
Make sure your space is technologically distraction free. Put your mobile phone in another room, shut down your emails and Facebook and if you still don’t trust yourself, you can install a browser extension that will automatically block distracting websites for you for a specified amount of time.
3. Get comfortable
For some, a comfy desk chair will be the way to go, for others who like to keep moving, maybe try a standing desk? If you prefer to balance on a fit ball, that is fine too – whatever works for you! Just make sure you are comfortable and take regular stretching breaks to avoid a stiff back or neck.
4. Nourish your mind… and your stomach
What better way is there to procrastinate than opening your fridge and staring aimlessly into it? Have some healthy snacks prepared before you start studying, so that you aren’t tempted to kill time by sifting through the pantry.
5. Find your #inspo
Your study space is somewhere you will likely spend a bit of time. So why not make it your happy place too? Maybe you want to stick an inspirational quote on the wall or some photos of your family and friends? Maybe you need a reminder of why you undertook study in the first place via a collage of images that represent your end goals – whatever works for you to keep you on track and sets you up to succeed.
