Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
A good workspace can be the difference between having a productive study session or one that's filled with distractions. Here's how to create your own.
Have a dedicated workspace
Decide where you’re going to study. Choose a workspace that you can dedicate to revising, that has enough space for you to lay out your books and notes. Make sure that the space is comfortable, given how many hours you’re going to spend there, and that it is void of distractions. You want a quiet, relaxing space conducive to being focused.
Remove distractions
Removing distractions will allow you to focus. Your phone and social media can tempt distraction, so try leaving your phone in another room and only using it when on your break. Log out of any streaming services or social media platforms on your laptop too, so you don’t get tempted to use them while you study.
Recreate assessment conditions
You’re more likely to recall information in the place that you first learned it. This is known as ‘context-dependent’ learning. When creating your study space, do your best to replicate the environment in which you’ll be tested. Your ability to remember what you’ve learnt will vastly improve come assessment time.
Bring water
Always have a glass or bottle of water with you. You should be constantly hydrating yourself throughout your study sessions to concentrate. You’ll often be allowed a water bottle with you during your assessment, so to further recreate test conditions you should get used to having one with you while you revise.
Find natural light
No one wants to be working in a dark room. Lack of natural light can quell motivation and provide the body with less of the vitamin D it needs. Natural light can also reduce the strain caused on your eyes by a computer’s blue light. The last thing you want to be feeling while revising is lethargic.
Only use the space for study
Try to only use your dedicated workspace for study. The more you do an activity in a certain place, the stronger the associations your brain will make between that place and what you do there. Over time your brain will become accustomed to revising when you sit down to study.
Be organised
You want to spend as little of your study time looking for the right pen or sheet of paper than studying. Have all your stationery and study resources carefully organised within your study space. Knowing where things are will free up your mental resources to focus on revising.
NEXT:
How to revise: revision techniques
How to cope with A-level stress
Header image: Photo by Slava Keyzman on Unsplash
