A good place to study
Here’s a suggestion for the start of the semester: Find a good place to study and make it your own. The more time you spend in that place, the more it will become associated with the work of learning.
A good place to study isn’t necessarily one that’s comfortable. In his book Creative Reading, the poet Ron Padgett offers a funny account of his teenaged attempt to create a “nirvana” for reading — pillows, background music, a Do Not Disturb sign, cold drinks, and cookies. The only problem was that he ended up falling asleep.
Good places to work are as various as individual students. If you like quiet, find a lesser-used area of the library. The bound periodicals or the A and Z stacks (if your library uses Library of Congress Classification) might be likely places to start. If silence is deafening, look for a livelier setting. If your dorm room would be a perfect place except for the noise in the hallway, try an ambient sound from iSerenity to mask the distractions.
When I’m not working at home, my favorite spot to work is a table on the third floor of my university library. I’ve been working at this table for so long that I’ve come to think of it as my own. There’s room to spread out books and papers (much more room than in a professorial carrel), and the public computers are far enough away that checking my e-mail isn’t a great temptation. The nearby books, mostly on urban renewal, are not a browser’s paradise. There is little to do at this table but drink bottled water and work.
When I’m walking to this table, I sometimes think about all the work I’ve already done there. That history itself makes this table a place where I’m likely to get stuff done. While the semester is young and full of new possibilities, find a place that helps you get stuff done too.
Michael Leddy teaches college English and has published widely as a poet and critic. He blogs at Orange Crate Art.
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Comments
Renzai says on January 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
I translated this article into Japanese. Is it OK to upload on my blog(http://www7.plala.or.jp/igloo/d/)? And I can’t understand a sentence of it; what does “The nearby books, mostly on urban renewal, are not a browser’s paradise.” mean? What is “a browser’s paradise”? Is it something confortable like a browser?
Christoph Wagner says on January 11th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
I’m no native speaker, but my guess is it meand that you cant waste time by looking through the books.
Michael Leddy says on January 12th, 2006 at 2:39 am
Hi Renzai,
It’s fine with me if you translate this, as long as you credit me by name and provide a link to the original. Please e-mail me at the address on my blog page — orange_crate_art [at] yahoo [dot] com. (Since you can’t know who I really am from this comment!)
I don’t know though if translating is ok with Leon Ho, who runs lifehack. Leon?
A “browser’s paradise” would be a wonderful place for someone to browse through books, like a great bookstore in which you can find many interesting books.
Leon says on January 13th, 2006 at 12:24 am
Agreed with Michael. Renzai, translation is fine this time (it is case by case) as long as including Michael as the author and the link to this page. But glad you have asked first. Hope it helps.
Renzai says on January 13th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Here is the translated article:
http://www7.plala.or.jp/igloo/.....06-01-13-1
Kane says on December 29th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
I love the iSerenity tip. I personally find silence great but I also love natural sounds like sitting by the river near my house. But unfortunatly that isn’t always practical.
Joel says on December 31st, 2006 at 11:21 pm
“Ron Padgett offers a funny account of his teenaged attempt to create a “nirvana” for reading — pillows, background music, a Do Not Disturb sign, cold drinks, and cookies. The only problem was that he ended up falling asleep.”
Most students fall into this deadly trap. My nirvana for study becomes too comfy and instead of doing top-notch quality work. Student ends up sleeping.
As a student, you’ve to strike a balance when building that ‘nirvana’. A cool temperature is always advisable, temperatures like 18-21 degrees Celsius gets your brain working in optimum condition. Keep food away from your study desk, they are more of a distraction than help. A glass of water is fine.
Some classical music at the background is great as well. Try Bach music, they put your brain in alpha state, where it is most absorptive of new materials.
Pace yourself when studying. Don’t sit on the desk 2 hours straight ’studying’ when you are practically not learning any new stuff. Take a break after 30-40mins of studying. I would recommend 40minutes.
While maintaining a good study environment is important, keep yourself in good condition is as vital.
My last piece of advice?
Ready, fire, aim.
Nutshell? Put this advice into practice and you’ll see the difference!
Jason Rubenstein says on January 17th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I can’t agree more! When I was in college, I signed up for a “carrel” in the library, and chose one on the top floor up and away from everything. It was quiet (which I prefer), isolated from distraction, and carried with it the ambience of study and work, since it was hidden behind stacks and rows of books.
It made a difference almost immediately.
Nowadays, silence isn’t always preferred – but to practice good concentration, certain music is better than others. This is perhaps a personal choice, but like the previous writer I suggest Bach. Or Corelli, Scarlatti, Vivaldi.. etc. The Baroque era composers tend to lend themselves well toward concentration and learning, IMO. I also find modern ambient works well, with Brian Eno as an example.
Once you get into a pattern of study that really works, you’ll find it useful for the rest of your life.
The obvious caveats: turn off your cel phone, close your IM and email. Study time is your time – you own it, it’s yours, so dont give it away to distractions and the demands of other people. Every couple of hours, or whenever you feel a natural break in work is appropriate, fire up the cel, IM, and email and see if anyone really desperately needs you. Then shut ‘em out and get back to work!
rajiv says on June 4th, 2007 at 6:20 am
tell where should i study is it table and chair or bed or other