**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest column by Lana Hawkins

Creating a functional study space where you can learn and focus on all your work requires a bit of organization and coordination. There are certain aspects which can contribute to a more functional learning space. So we are here to help you figure out how to properly organize your study room so you could devote yourself to your studies and pass all your subjects with flying colors. So put your book down, take a break and read these couple of tips that we have prepared for you today.

Equipment

Organizing your study room properly should consist of a couple of crucial things. Firstly, you should equip your space with functional furniture. Keep in mind to keep the amount of furniture limited. What you actually need is a good and comfortable chair, a functional work desk and a couple of drawers and cabinets to keep all your supplies. A computer is quite a practical thing, but it is a potential distraction. Because of this, consider using it only if you really need it. Also, consider having only study data and files on your computer so you would avoid using it for games and such.

Stock Up!

Of course, no study space is complete unless you stock it up with all the supplies you need. Your learning space should always have some basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, rulers etc..When you have equipped yourself with all your textbooks and needed material, the next step is to organize it properly. This means that all your supplies should always be just at the reach of your hand. Make sure to sort all your materials by colors or some other mean of notation. It is really important to neatly set your working area so you would know how to manage around your things.

Lighting and Temperature

Another very important thing that most students don’t pay too much attention to. The lighting and temperature in your learning space can very much affect your productivity. Make sure to invest in some adequate lighting so you would be able to concentrate better on your studies. If you do not have proper lighting in your room, you might strain your eyes or get headaches. Other than that, a room that does not have a good ventilation and heating system may cause some negative effects as well. Good air flow is really important so that oxygen would be able to access your brain and make it work faster and better.

Details

Sometimes the details can have a great influence on the surrounding area. For instance, it is really important to rid your working area of all the unnecessary details and distractions. Keep in mind to keep only the things you need so you could work more efficiently and effectively. Also, make sure to always turn off all your electronic devices when studying. A TV in a study room is a big no. Other than this, there are certain things that might help you focus more on your studies. Some motivational or inspirational messages can greatly contribute to feelings of self worth and confidence.

Creating a functional working space is really important if you wish to focus on your studies. This is why you should consider some of these advice in order to help you organize your study room in a proper way. If you create a peaceful surrounding for yourself where you can sit, concentrate and focus on all you need to do, you will surely be able to overcome all the obstacles and trammels that you encounter along he way.
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Lana Hawkins is an architecture student and a crafty girl from Sydney, Australia. She loves cooking, knitting and writing about home decor. Lana especially loves to share some useful advice on study room organization, as well as office renovation ideas for those who work from home. Follow Lana on Facebook.