The days are getting shorter, the blistering heat of the summer is losing its edge, and the stores are stocked with fresh notebooks, highlighters, and backpacks. All signs point to back-to-school season. We at Vitrazza would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all students who are stepping into their educations. Whether it’s the first class, second try, or homestretch, we believe all students deserve a space that feels conducive to studying at home. But you’re a student, not an interior decorator (unless that’s your major, then lucky you!), so you ask yourself, “how do I set up my study space?” Read on for our top five tips on how to create your perfect home office setup.
Organize Your Study Space
For starters, we recommend keeping your study space, wherever it may be within your home (shoutout to the converted closet team!), tidy and organized based on your individual needs as a student. Clutter can distract focus and cause unnecessary shuffling of paperwork to find notes. Tenured students: identify the supplies you traditionally use the most (e.g., file storage, paper, writing tools, etc.) and keep them in the same spot for easy access. New to study requirements? Analyze your syllabus and identify your top needs related to upcoming tasks. For example, if you’ve got a thick biology textbook to read through, prepare a small, spinning desk organizer full of highlighters, post-its, and fresh pens.
For fun, visit your local office supply store, take a stroll, and let your imagination run wild. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised by how appealing a new file cabinet looks. But don’t get too excited! Racking up more supplies than necessary can pull you right back into clutter mode.
Minimize Distractions
Humans have an approximate attention span of eight seconds, so studying can feel like an uphill battle from the start. To encourage better focus, minimize any distractions in your designated (and organized) space. This, too, looks different for every student. A quick way to get started? Identify your top three favorite distractions, whatever they may be, and intentionally structure a study time to avoid them. If the thought of a messy kitchen distracts you, do the dishes before you crack the books. Your favorite show is on at 8 pm? Start studying at five so you can be done, wine in hand, when it starts. Think of what you find your mind wandering to the most when you study and actively work to avoid those situations. Students with roommates, kids, or attention-seeking animals may especially find the need to structure study times. Setting a timer to encourage these boundaries can also help promote better focus.
Ergonomic Furniture for Form and Function
When you are studying at home, you’re already taking steps to take care of your mind, so make sure you take care of your body at the same time. Ergonomics are crucial to effective studying because they ensure you stay comfortable within your environment. An uncomfortable situation puts focus at risk, and after a while, the resulting chronic pain guarantees that you’ll lose focus.
Consider purchasing ergonomic furniture for your study space like wrist rests, office chairs, a footrest, and blue light-blocking glasses (if you use a computer frequently). These accessories may feel luxurious, but they may help prevent physical injuries associated with office work, like carpel tunnel syndrome.
Another Ergonomic Desk Essential
In addition to your ergonomic furniture, don’t forget to keep your chair moving effortlessly across the floor with a Vitrazza Glass Chair Mat. Sticking in the cracks and ruts of a plastic chair mat can be the final straw of an already frustrating study experience, and it is easily avoidable with our affordable Glass Chair Mats.
Based on a study conducted by Kelly Meetz, Certified Ergonomist and Physical Therapist, a Glass Chair Mat used on top of a carpet rug was shown to reduce the number of "awkward postures" by 95%. Why? Because moving an office across a Glass Chair Mat requires 83% less force than moving across a rug. The best part is that the ergonomic benefits of a Glass Chair Mat are 91% better than a plastic mat on a rug.
If you're sick of replacing ugly plastic chair mats that crack and dent, leaving you stuck in a rut, then a Vitrazza Glass Chair Mat is the perfect solution!
For an even better experience, upgrade your chair equipment with Hubless Office Chair Wheels.
Importance of Lighting
Although our fellow bookworms might protest, you cannot effectively read in the dark under the covers with a flashlight. Anything similar while studying will also cause uncomfortable eye strain. Make sure your designated study space is well-lit with bright, cool-colored (white or blue) lighting, which is proven to help focus as it mimics natural daylight.
Create Ambiance
Now for the fun and flair. Add small accessories to create an ambiance within your study space that expresses your personality and makes it less sterile. Filling your space with pieces that make you happy and show off your personality can make studying feel like a part of your life, not just a task you have to complete. What will fit your space best? Try adding something to stimulate each of your five senses and how you can best satisfy each of them to create a comfortable environment.
- Sight: Place a small house plant or an inspiring piece of art on a shelf or a wall within your field of vision.
- Scent: Fill a diffuser with an essential oil to add a pleasant aroma to the space. Orange oil, for example, is known to reduce stress and lift spirits.
- Sound: Put on quiet music or a sound machine to reduce distracting background noises.
- Taste: Have a snack stash ready for when the munchies strike so you don’t have to break your concentration by going to the kitchen.
- Touch: Make sure you have the feel of a solid workspace available. Our favorite tactile office essential? A Vitrazza Deskgaurd glass blotter, which makes writing, drawing, or even just gliding your mouse across your desk a smooth and effortless feeling.
Ready to Upgrade?
Are you ready to experience a new and incomparable office essential? Upgrade your study space with a Vitrazza Glass Chair Mat! Happy studying!
