Where you study

In the sections on 'All in the mind', I talked about the importance of being able to focus and concentrate on your study without distractions. There may be places away from home that work for you, such as the library, but I guess your main study place will be your room, probably your bedroom.

KEY POINT: Have a place that is devoted just to study.

If it's your bedroom, make a special area just for study and nothing else. Not for listening to music, casual reading, watching TV, etc. Why? Because if you use the same space for more than studying, it is simply more difficult to get into the 'learning zone' there. If you do these other things in your room, create a separate space for them - a different chair, a different view.

You may not have a space that you can devote to study; your room may be too small to study at all. If so, find another place in the house which you can use and get your families agreement that you can be left in peace to work. You may have to do a deal with other members of the family, so that you use the space sometime and others use it at other times. If all of this is not possible, then you must find a space outside your home, such as a library or friend's house.

KEY POINT: Have all you need in one place.

What I mean is, all your school books, syllabuses, files, writing and drawing equipment, computer, and so on.

If you're not sure about what you need to have in your study space, look at the Learning resources section.

KEY POINT: Make sure you can find anything you want, quickly.

That means getting organised - having a place for each subject and similar ways of organising each subject.

Think about what you want to have for each subject. For example, you will have text books and revise guides, class notes and worksheets, your own notes, coursework, print-outs from the computer, and so on.

Organise your notes according to topic, so that you know that everything to do with a topic is in one place - even if it means tearing up your note books!

KEY POINT: Identify and remove distractions.

Don't have the T.V. on. Don't have loud music on, or music with lyrics. Half your brain will be listening no matter how hard you're concentrating. Try studying without music at all. If you have to play music, experiment with quiet, gentle music.

Tell the rest of your family that you are not to be disturbed. Switch off your mobile phone! Yes, I know this might be difficult, but if you work at a regular time each evening, then your friends will get to know your routine.

Some of the distractions will be due to other people - friends and family. It's a good idea to tell them that you are working and to help them respect you for wanting to be left alone until you've finished.

KEY FACT: Create a comfortable atmosphere.

Let some air into the room - a stuffy atmosphere can send you to sleep.
Keep the temperature cool; it's much better to be too cold than too hot.
Invest in natural-light light-bulbs. They are not expensive and are more comfortable. Artificial light is, well, artificial; the brain prefers natural.

[-> next, go to the section on- Time management ]

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