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The Griffin

Ask Ava

“What is the best place to study on Campus? The Library is too distracting, but I like to be able to leave my dorm and get work done.”


The makings of a perfect study spot will depend on what you need from a study spot. Not every space is going to work for everyone, so the first thing you need to do is figure out what elements make up your perfect work environment. 


My lack of attention span doesn’t always mesh well with study buddies – I tend to go too hard on the whole being with buddies part, and forget about the studying. Still, it helps me to be around others when it comes to getting my work done. I find it motivating to be in a public setting; the buzz of a social atmosphere helps with workflow. Plus, there’s no one in my dorm room to make me feel judged for going on my phone for an hour instead of writing this column, and when my oh, so luxurious twin XL bed is constantly in my peripheral vision, the temptation to give up and go to bed is much harder to resist. When I’m in the library or at a cafe, my undying need to look cool and studious and impressively more productive than anyone else who’s there is so powerful that I actually do end up getting more done. 


I understand that self-gaslighting doesn’t work for all of us though. Sometimes, you can’t trick yourself out of being completely distracted by this type of setting. Sometimes, clocking in a few hours in a dark, silent room is the only thing that gets the job done. Honestly, lounge areas around campus after hours make for the perfect blend of being out of your room, but not completely exposed to the unpredictable elements of the elusive Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library.


When I’m in dire need of a place like that, I tend to end up in one of my club rooms, the Commuter Lounge or any of the lounges on any of the floors on Old Main. If you’re going to be working all on your lonesome, setting up camp near a window, or simply keeping your clubroom door open a crack, can be key to keeping you connected to life and maintaining your sanity. 


Much of my most productive and most proud work I’ve done has happened late at night in The Griffin office, with all but the desk lamps turned off and the door open – running on fumes and partially melted candy, and on the verge of a mild heat stroke. It sounds miserable, but I feel like it’s given me a safe space where I can sprawl out how I want to, but it’s not so comfortable that I’d fall asleep. I get to see people walk by and hear distant chatter, but not talk to anyone I don’t want to. 


 It sounds like you would benefit greatly from a similar place where you can be publicly alone, but it’s up to you to figure out exactly where that may be. These places can be so fostering of a productive environment that you might actually forget to breathe between assignments. So as much as you may think you need to lock in, I promise those short interruptions to say hello to someone walking by will be good for your mind and soul. You’ll find your happy medium – just give it time and expect some trial and error.

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