Do you ever wonder why you seem to retain more information while studying at your favourite cafe? Do you feel like you lack focus when you’re revising in your dorm room? That’s because your physical space has an effect on your ability to learn and focus. New research by the University of Portsmouth and University College London found that studying in an environment with some ambient noise has a positive impact on undergraduate students with high cognitive flexibility. Meanwhile, another study has found that studying in a coffee shop may increase learning ability, alertness, and creativity.
There are many reasons why people seem to learn more when they’re at a particular place, or why they prefer to study in certain areas. Here’s how physical spaces can enhance productivity and improve learning, and what you can do to make any place the ideal spot for studying.
Thermal Comfort Matters
Have you ever tried to study in a chilly or overly warm room? If you have, it’s likely that you had a difficult time learning since room temperature has an impact on our ability to learn. High humidity and heat can make students feel drowsy–in fact, a study has found that a school year that was hotter by 0.56 C correlated to a loss of 1 percent of a year’s learning. Meanwhile, studying in an excessively cold room can be distracting since the discomfort can cause you to lose focus. According to the National Education Union, classroom temperatures should be at least 18 C. For a study room, the recommended temperature is between 21 C and 25 C.
If you’re staying in a warm dorm room, try bringing in a portable air conditioner or a stand fan to cool your room and make it conducive for learning. If your room is too cold, run a space heater and install thermal curtains to add warmth. You can also get a mini split system to ensure adequate cooling and heating of your space. With mini splits you can be sure to have a cool room during summer and a warm room by winter!
Meanwhile, students who live in a flat or a house should consider getting a smart thermostat to ensure thermal comfort. With this device, you can remotely adjust your home’s temperature so you can come home to a comfortably cool or warm abode. It also allows you to save money since you can program your HVAC unit to run less often and keep track of your energy usage.
Natural Lighting for Enhanced Focus
There’s a reason why most people love to read beside an open window or in a sunny room. According to a University of Salford study, good daylight helps to create a sense of mental and physical comfort. Natural light can also improve focus and concentration levels, reduce the risk of depression, and prevent eye strain. Some coffee shops are designed to maximise the amount of natural light coming in, making them the ideal place to study. If your place feels gloomy and needs a good dose of natural light, try painting your walls in light colours and replace heavy drapes with sheer ones. You can also add mirrors to your room to help the light bounce around your space and use full-spectrum light bulbs to simulate daylight.
Ambient Sounds for Productivity
Most people think that playing some music while studying can be distracting. But for many students, studying in complete silence can be a challenge. This is why many young people create a study playlist so they can have some music playing in the background while they read or do their schoolwork. A recent survey has revealed that students who listen to music while studying achieve higher GPAs and have better reading comprehension skills, so why not play some tunes while going over your schoolwork? Go to YouTube and type in “best study playlist” or “study music” in the space bar to listen to hours of chill ambient music, or create your own playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
Summary
The elements in your physical space can have an impact on your learning skills. Try the tips mentioned above to turn any space into the ideal place to study, and see how they make a difference in your productivity and ability to focus.
Featured image by cottonbro studio from Pexels
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