A variety of factors affect your ability to concentrate and study well. A high level of mental focus is influenced by many factors, especially a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and the reduction of unnecessary mental distractions such as social media, or even stress.
A big part of your concentration is associated with your study environment, namely lighting, temperature, colors, and your body’s position. If you have windows in your home office, how you utilize them can play a significant role in your performance. Here, we will touch on a few essential factors to help you optimize your study environment.
Adjust the Temperature
Temperature impacts your attention span, and can drive poor performance. The brain needs to maintain your body temperature, which means that when the temperature of your study atmostphere is off, your concentration ability is reduced. Dressing appropriately will also help your body regulate your temperature.
Overall, you need to control the temperature in your study space. To reduce natural heat through windows, slant blinds upward to reflect the light off the ceiling without direct sunlight warming up the room, or let the sunlight in when your room is too cold. Naturally, heating and A/C systems also come into play for a steadier temperature throughout the day.
Enhance the Right Colors
The brain reacts to colors. Orange, for instance, can lift the mood and give you a boost of energy. But surrounding your study space with too much bright color, and it tends toward overstimulation. Blue makes you more productive with its soothing hues.
Dark blue can affect your perception of temperature. Including soft green tones to your interior style can bring the decor together and create a relaxing environment that reduces stress and encourages concentration.
Alternatively, the presence of houseplants in your study space can have a similar effect. Students can add houseplants to increase their green theme and support their efforts to concentrate better. Keep the plants in a naturally lit place according to the directions of that plant, as some prefer indirect rather than direct sunlight.
Soundproof Your Space
In urban environments, the sound of traffic and everyday activities can be distracting. Some students opt for noise-canceling headphones that can help tackle noise pollution, and create a quiet learning environment.
But you can also mute down your noisy surroundings using soundproofing elements. A houseplant barrier by the window can insulate from chatters and humming distractions, such as commuting sounds, for instance.
Plants are especially useful in busy homes and offices. Vinyl windows with double glazing can also provide an effective solution to insulate your home and reduce the level of sounds that reach your study space. If you have old windows with apparent damage, such as cracks or holes in the frames, a vinyl replacement can transform the space.
Sit in the Right Position
Optimizing your study space for best performance means being able to take frequent breaks to relax your mind and your eyes. There are simple practices for resting your eyes regularly and to avoid straining: every 20 minutes, look away from the screen or textbook for 20 seconds, at something 20 feet away. Sitting next to a window can help you implement this simple routine in your study plans.
Every hour or two, depending on your comfort level, you should stand up and move. It is better for your blood circulation, which in turns helps your brain and body become more alert. Even just sitting upright helps you maintain your knees and hips at an even level. But it helps to oxygenate your brain by standing up, stretching, or walking to the water fountain every couple of hours.
Use the Right Lighting
Managing the light in your study space can reduce eye strains. If you work or study at a computer, screen glasses help protect you from the screen’s blue light which can be harmful to the eyes. However, direct and unfiltered sunlight can also be damaging, so windows that block a level of UV light are a good choice.
If you need additional lighting, opt for soft lighting with a low Kelvin rating that has enough brightness for your work without being too harsh. A warm source of light that imitates or is natural lighting remains the ideal choice.
Optimizing your study space for your performance is a lot easier than it seems. The introduction of green elements can make you feel more relaxed and centered. Soundproofing your study with replacement windows or noise-canceling technology will avoid distractions. Finally, maximizing your comfort with the right lighting, temperature, and sitting position can boost your results!