Organizing Your Workspace

One of the most important things for a student to have is their own devoted workspace; an environment where they can go and write or study without too much interruption. This allows them to focus solely on the tasks that they need to accomplish and not get distracted by the things around them. The study area should be different for each student according to their particular study habits (or lack of them) but there are a few points that are essential.

Have everything you need available. This could be the most important part in having a really effective and efficient desk. In order to be really effective, minimize the chances of having to get up every half hour to go looking for a ruler, pencil or book. It helps maintain a train of thought, while at the same time reducing the “settling back in” period. When I was studying or writing papers, I always found it helpful to be have tools like a compass, office supplies and something to snack on the right hand side of my desk, with books and reference materials on the left, or above my monitor. This helped keep me focused because I knew where everything was, and could reach and locate the tools I needed without having to look away from what I was doing.



Avoid clutter. While post it notes are great, they can be far too distracting if your monitor or desk top is covered with “to do” lists. It can just get overwhelming, and lead to feeling like you need more breaks to get a handle on things. If you see a pile of work that needs to be done, the most typical reaction is to rush through everything and things end up falling through the cracks. Keep assignments and tasks out of view in a drawer or inbox. As they’re completed, the sense of satisfaction when moving them into the “completed” pile helps motivate while keeping the feeling of having too much to do at a minimum.
I always found it helpful to have a small coffee pot or kettle next to my desk. The two cup coffee pots are ideal for a quick boost, and you don’t have to get away from your work to take a bit of a break when you’ve earned it. The new Tassimo coffee pots are ideal because they have everything you need built right in and can make single serving coffee or cappuccino for a quick boost.

Minimize entertainment. There was no TV near my desk, and I kept a separate computer for my school work. No music or other media were on that machine, so that I could concentrate. If I wanted music, I would load up my MP3 player before hand and take it with me to my desk. It can be a useful study aid to listen to music while preparing for exams and tests depending on how you absorb material.

It can be good to have a plant or fish bowl near your desk. Many professors and teachers have recommended having something that can encourage a more tranquil environment which aids in focusing on the subject at hand. Beta fish are always a popular choice, because of their slow tranquil movements. Similarly, a potted plant can help in much the same way. Something lush and green can have a very soothing effect on what can otherwise be a very stressful setting.

Good study and work habits are mostly based on creating a positive, focused environment with minimal distractions. The ability to focus on the task at hand, reducing excuses for leaving the area, and create an organized method of handling the tasks that need to be accomplished are always sure fire ways to make sure that you’re accomplishing your goals to the best of your ability and using your time effectively. The ability to use time effectively can make or break a student’s academic career and sets the tone for future endeavors.