Your Study Space

As years go by, I find that I increasingly have difficulty studying at home. My home is very small and cramped, and the computers are in my parents room. Everytime I need to do work or write a paper, I have to go in there.

Imagine what it's like for me to pull an all-nighter writing an essay or doing research online. I have to be really quiet because there's people sleeping in the room. I have to be extra quiet even when I shuffle sheets of papers or flip through books. If I get frustrated, I can't vent and say things out loud. I can't blast music. If I want music, I need to put on headphones.

I'm sure anyone's who's been through university knows this: When you're dealing with school crap under a time crunch, every damn little thing can annoy the hell out of you. So my patience is already extremely thin, especially at 3am in the morning. On top of that, there's the grating sound of snoring six feet away from me.

The desk itself is small, cluttered, and there's hardly enough surface area to put all my notes and books. I get so discouraged by the study space that I simply don't want to work anymore.

This is NOT an environment that's conducive to working positively. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why I got so discouraged to work. After all, I did this all through high school just fine, when the workload was easy and more than manageable. Now I realize just how crappy my study space is.

How does your study space affect your productivity and motivation to study.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

If I just need to do some reading, I obviously won't read in that room. But then again, I'm not exactly productive either when it comes to reading at home.

Oddly enough, I'm able to concentrate so much better when I'm reading on the subway on my way to class. Or I have to go to the library in order to get some reading done.

But when it comes to writing papers, I have no choice. I don't have a laptop, so I can't write essays just anywhere I want.

How ya doing, buddy?

I've never had my own room.

If I want some peace and quiet in order to my reading, I'll have to head for the library. It isn't practical because the public library closes at 8:30pm. And the libraries on campus are a 45-minute subway commute.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Syndrome

I understand you dislike your situation, it must be a hell

I have my own room with computer and so, but the desk is really small. Seriously, the monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard takes up all space, so I can't have books and papers there. This mostly annoy the hell out of me if since I most often need books and papers while working. I should get a laptop and sit at the kitchen table or something.

I agree. It's frustrating as hell when you have tons of reference books and notes, and there's NO surface area on your little desk to put them all. For this reason, sometimes I envy people with laptops.

Yeah, I wish my set-up was better. I've actually dealt with this all my life, so I've gotten used to it. It's just the last couple of years in university -- with endless papers and research -- that have gotten to me. All of sudden, I realize why I'm so sick of writing papers, simply because of the dynamics of my work space.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Sometimes when I'm pulling an all-nighter writing essays, I wish I could throw things.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by munchkin13

My computer is in my mum and dads room. I've got the problem of not being able to pull an all nighter on essays because they simply won't let me use the computer while their asleep, they also go to bed around 10 so it's not like I'd even have a chance. The workspace round the pc is so small and full of my dads printouts and crap, I've got no space to put down my books or anything. and if I leave something in there then all hell breaks loose because I've messed up the workspace lol. When it comes to reading I have to do it on my bedroom floor cos theres no surface in the house where i can go and pull up a chair and sit and read at. It sucks. I find it easier to study at college but this year for my january exams i did it at home, my results which I'm getting tomorrow will probably reflect the shoddiness of my study area.

I feel ya. Sounds a lot like my situation, except my parents don't mind me pulling all-nighters writing essays in their room. They're always very encouraging: "Oh you do what you gotta do. Don't worry about it. Schoolwork comes first."

But considering how cramped and uncomfortable, and how little desk space I got, it's no wonder my productivity has plunged over the years.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by quest2368

Timberwolf - Perhaps you can move the computer to another location in the house?

Unfortunately, that is not an option at this time, given our cramped living condition. It's a two-bedroom apartment, with stuff all over the place.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by quest2368

Timberwolf- Situations are tough for u at the moment. Hang in there, I'm sure it'll get better once you graduate. Do you study at the library or at school sometimes? Would it help to do it at school?

Thanks quest2368, I'm okay. I've gotten used to it. It's only just recently I realized how lame my set-up is. Sometimes I just need to vent, especially during a time crunch.

Studying at the libraries on campus definitely allows me to focus a lot better, and puts my mind at ease. But since I don't live on campus, and need to commute by subway, sometimes staying at (or going to) the library isn't always practical.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?