As the anticipation of midterm exams looms overhead, you know you need to get your nose in some books. Study guides need to be filled out, Quizlets need to be created and a whole lot of coffee needs to be brewed.
The location you choose could make or break your productivity, but you may be indecisive about where on campus to go. Especially if this is your first year at Taylor, you may still be experimenting with which locations suit you best.
Take this quiz as a tool to find out which study spot might be right for you, and may the grading curve be ever in your favor!
You need some brain fuel - what is your go-to study snack?
I don’t study snack, I study meal — pizza, nuggets, salads, you name it!
Something portable and portioned — anything that will fit in a Ziploc bag, like nuts or chocolate covered blueberries.
Whatever snacks are in my stash from Reade Avenue Market and Dollar General. I need variety!
You’re in the zone, riding a wave of productivity, when one of the below happens and breaks your focus. Which of these distractions would bother you the most?
You are swallowed by the overwhelming silence in the room and spiral into a mini existential crisis, your Tell-Tale Heart your only companion in the stillness.
You are obviously deep in thought, perhaps even with earbuds in, when a friend approaches and starts an irrelevant conversation. Of course it’s the friend that could out-talk an auctioneer.
Your seat is too hard. Your table tips a little. It’s too cold. The lighting is much too harsh and flickers at random. You remind yourself of Goldilocks — nothing is just right.
Your GroupMe is blowing up because your project group is trying to figure out where to meet. Which of these group study elements are important to you?
I need to be able to vocalize my opinions, joke around and have access to food. Group project meetings need to have a party atmosphere or else I’ll get bored!
I need to be able to get down to business, block out external distractions and have access to academic resources. Group project meetings need to have a scholarly atmosphere or else I won’t get anything done!
I need to be able to feel at ease, relax and have access to the food and furniture I’m familiar with. Group project meetings need to have a customizable atmosphere or else I won’t feel truly comfortable!
How do you force yourself to get your head in the game?
If I have my class materials out in public, I want to at least look like I’m studying, which often tricks me into actually studying. It’s like . . . accountability from strangers.
I need to pull a Deitrich Bonhoeffer — but with less Life Together and more silence and solitude.
I need to create an atmosphere that fits my needs at the time. The perfect snacks, the most comfortable pillows, the appropriate lighting, music to match my mood . . . I need to vibe with it, you know?
Pick an aesthetic.
A pack of new pens. Laptop stickers. A chilled coffee. Intermittent laughter punctuating the music in your headphones.
Hardcover books. Stained glass lamps. Yellow graphite pencils. Dust dancing in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Hanging lights. Soft quilts. The scent of home. Succulents on the windowsill like emerald crowns.
Additional favorite study spots to try include the Euler atrium, Reade lounge, and above the Hodson Dining Commons — plus, don’t be afraid to try outdoors! Keep paying attention to your study habits, and identifying your worst distractions; it’s okay if you’re still learning how best to study in a college setting.
Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to resources like the Academic Enrichment Center, Counseling Center, Residence Life staff and preceptorial leaders if you’re struggling. Sometimes it’s not just about the place. Don’t forget — you are surrounded by people cheering you on.
