A Guide To Studying At Home

A new year means new opportunities to upskill or explore different career paths. Thankfully, a great way to do this is by studying at home, which for many people is the preferred way to maintain productivity while still being comfortable and relaxed. Although this can be valuable for most people, it can still be challenging to focus and stay on track, especially when studying. Because of this, a guide to studying at home can help to maximise the time spent studying, eliminate distractions and create the most optimal study environment.

Organise A Proper Study Area

Studying at home can be an effective way to work through a course, like those that LET Training offers. It can be advantageous to not have to worry about the distractions that come with a classroom or having to worry about making it to class. However if you are going to be studying at home, it is crucial to set up an appropriate study area. To do this, make sure the study area is quiet, with minimal distractions. It’s also a great idea to maximise the amount of natural light the space gets. Equally important is making sure an appropriate platform, such as a desk or table, is available to ensure proper posture and comfort. Follow these points to create the optimal study space at home:

Maximise natural light where possible. If not possible, have a decent lamp to provide adequate light.
Utilize a sturdy desk, with enough room for everything needed to study.
Use a comfortable chair, with good support to ensure proper posture and minimise strain.
Control the amount of noise around the space, either by listening to music or moving to a quieter location.
Keep the space organized. There are many different ways to do this, such as cheap desk organizers or shelving units.
Personalise the space with favourite trinkets and accolades, to remember that its important to still have fun.

Use A Virtual Study Room

Since studying and working from home has become more popular, online resources for increasing productivity have emerged, such as virtual study rooms. Virtual Study Rooms are a great way to connect with other remote students and support each other along their study journey. The majority of them are free, such as Study Together, allowing students to spend as much time as they need, without worrying about additional costs. Using this platform students can connect with other students in a virtual room, and support each other while studying. Also, if a student wants to create a private virtual study space, they can do that too. Creating a private room allows students to customize the virtual room, with animated backgrounds, music, goal timers and other beneficial tools to increase productivity and stay focused.

Listen To Music That Helps The Mind Focus

Numerous studies have been conducted that prove how beneficial listening to music can be while studying. Not only does it help to engage the brain, but it serves as a way to block out distractions. Some great music to listen to are movie or video game soundtracks, as they are specifically designed to capture and retain attention. Music can help to stay focussed while studying, with many people having different playlists for different moods or subjects. Upbeat playlists can be helpful at the start of the day, or during study breaks to increase motivation. Soft and melodic playlists are great during study, as they are unobtrusive and allows the brain to focus on the tasks at hand, while removing external distractions. It can be a good idea to create multiple playlists before starting study, to switch between as needed.

Take Frequent Breaks

While it is important to have significant portions of time studying (for a lot of courses, especially those from LET Training, it is recommended to set aside 10-15 hours per week) it is equally important to take breaks and recharge. That being said, it can be easy to get distracted at home, so make sure the breaks aren’t too long. A helpful practise to get into is to perform exercises in the breaks. Since sitting for extended periods isn’t good for health, some light exercises will be beneficial to stretch muscles and get the blood flowing. Some other options for effective study breaks include:

Going for a walk. This helps stretch out all the muscles, as well as allowing the brain to rest and get ready for the next round of study. Plus fresh air is always beneficial.
Meditate. Meditation is a great way to train the brain to focus and ignore distractions. Studies have shown that meditating for approximately 10-15 minutes a day, can be helpful.
Take 20 minutes to read a book, watch an episode of a TV show or play a video game. Sometimes it’s a good idea to just have some fun and completely destress.
Have a power nap. Taking a 10 or 15 minute nap can be all the brain needs to reset itself and recharge. It is important to set an alarm though.

Set Achievable Study Goals

This is a big point to keep note of. When studying many students make the mistake of setting goals for themselves that are unattainable, which can demotivate them when they don’t achieve it. A good way to set goals is to remember to be SMART. This is a great way to stay on track and keep motivated, especially when studying a great course like those from LET Training.

Eat Nutritious Snacks And Stay Hydrated

Much like the computers used to study, the brain requires a significant amount of processing power in order to concentrate. In order for the brain to maximise the amount of processing power it has, it requires the right fuel to keep it going. Some of the best types of food to eat, are also cheap, so it should be easy to keep them on hand. The list below has some great ideas on what to eat when studying.

Dried Fruit and nuts
Eggs or avocado on bread
Fruit salad
A couple of pieces of dark chocolate
Porridge
Popcorn
Cheese
Yoghurt

All of these foods have various benefits which all help to fuel the brain and keep its focus up. It is crucial to eat healthy food, especially when studying, as it keeps the brain performing at peak ability. Make sure to also stay hydrated, by drinking plenty of water. Tea and coffee is a good choice too, though too much won’t be very good.

Need course information?

If you’re wanting to start studying and implementing these tips, there’s no better place to go than LET Training.

Check out our great courses by following the link – Click here for more details!

CONTACT LET Training – enquire@lettraining.com.au (02) 9633 3929

January 18, 2023 | Blog | Tags: blog, blogs, career progression, commitment, communication skills, courses, courses online, development, diploma, Education, experiences, learn, learning, LET Training, LET Training courses, study online, Studying, support, training online, work from home, Work from home study

A Guide To Studying At Home