With the beginning of the school year arriving, I have found that searching for the right study spot is still a learning curve for me as a senior. Not all assignments are made the same. While some don’t require me to be in deep focus, others need my full attention. Depending on what it is, where I study can change. While Florida State University (FSU) has plenty of places to do work, not all of them are good. Below are my three least favorite study spots at FSU for when it’s crunch time.
1. The first floor of the student union
The Student Union is the last place I want to study when I have an exam in less than a few hours. One of those reasons is because the many food options that exist there can be a tempting distraction. I’m always fighting the urge to spend food on money when I’m not even hungry. Furthermore, during its peak hours, it becomes packed with students, so the food court ambiance just becomes a high school cafeteria. However, this can be easily solved by just climbing to the next floor. Once the restaurants are out of sight, they’re out of mind, and the rush hour volume isn’t an issue if you’re not in the middle of it.
2. the desk or bed in my room
Especially in the late hours of the night, studying in my dorm room proves to be a bit difficult. Studies have shown that it’s not a wise idea to study in your room because your brain will associate the bedroom with productivity, which will make it harder to sleep. Additionally, when I study in my bed, I feel more tempted to take naps that turn into an entire eight-hour sleep cycle. I find the best way to avoid this is to study in the living room because it’s uncomfortable to sleep there.
3. landis green
Studying outside has never been my cup of tea, but I do understand why a lot of people enjoy it. However, it’s a bit of an issue for me because of the limited space. If a lot of your resources are on a device, it may be hard to see because of the strong sunlight affecting how you can see your screen. Also, it’s a nightmare once you are far into your studies and your device starts dying and you cannot charge it. Not to mention, Landis is a bit unpredictable. You never know what tournament, pop-up shop, or bad weather is going to have you heading toward Strozier.
These study spots aren’t the worst places in the world; I have heard many students say that they love them. However, these are the spots I wouldn’t choose first. Finding a perfect study spot for your own needs and goals does take time if you are new to campus. It’s important to try different settings to see what works, but also to learn to be flexible with your options. Overall, I would advise taking advantage of the campus to look for places to study. Whether it’s on the floor in the corner of a building or under a staircase, do what works for you within reason. And if you don’t know where to start to look for places, check out the University Libraries’ website page dedicated to study spaces on campus.
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