Being able to study well requires plenty of preparation and is influenced by many factors. Unfortunately, we often overlook some external factors that could prevent us from studying better and getting maximum results.

Each and every one of us has study methods that work best for us, which are influenced by our characters, habits, living conditions, phase of life, and so on.

Some prefer to study in public places, others prefer the comfort of their home. Some people love to study in a group, while some others couldn’t concentrate if they are not alone.

When we were younger, perhaps we preferred to study until late at night. But when we are an adult who goes back to school as a student mom and dad, perhaps now we prefer to study at dawn, for example, before the kids wake up.

Whatever our study habits are, it doesn’t really matter as long as we get the results we wanted. But good results from our effort to study hard do not only depend on our self-discipline and willpower.

If somehow you cannot study at your best, try to figure out what is the cause and find appropriate solutions to your problem.

When you are an adult student or student mom and dad, there are plenty of factors that could prevent you from studying better, since you have to juggle many responsibilities such as school, work, and family matters.

But if you have a good support system and neat arrangement at work and with your family that could help you manage your study, but somehow you still get bad results, perhaps you should try to consider the external factors we often overlook that prevent us from studying better as one of the reasons why you don’t get the results you hoped for, despite all the hard work you’ve been putting on so far.

Here are some of the most common factors that prevent you from studying better :

1.     Poor Lightning

Ideally, you need to study in broad daylight and keep your windows open. In addition to lighting up the room, sunlight on a sunny day will also uplift your mood and improve your motivation, including your motivation to study.

When natural light is not readily available, because you tend to study at night or at dawn, for example, you will need to turn to an artificial solution: lightning.

The most important thing to remember when you choose the best lighting for your study room or desk is to choose the best light color for studying, which is one that will mimic natural lighting (sunlight) as much as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, many people think of sunlight as yellow, so it should be a warmer temperature lamp, while natural sunlight is actually closer to white or bluish-white, on the cool scale of the temperature lamp.

Thus, opting for a Kelvin scale around 4000-4500K will be a good choice for a solution similar to natural light.

Remember that a good study area is well-lit. If you make it a habit of studying with dim lighting, not only will you needlessly strain your eyes, which could cause some damage to your eyes in the long run, but you will also induce drowsiness that will lower your focus and concentration.

2.     Room Temperature That is Too Hot or Too Cold

A study conducted by Cornel University reveals that students perform better when studying at a room temperature between 70–80-degree Fahrenheit or 21-26 degrees Celsius.

In this experiment, students in both colder and warmer rooms tested poorly compared to those in the control room where the room temperature was maintained at around 70 F / 21 C.

Furthermore, this study continues its research to explain why climate might play such a significant role in studying. Students will also have the highest productivity level when working and studying at this room temperature.

This condition also affects your memory and learning capabilities. Your mind becomes focused on maintaining its body temperature, either cooling or heating, in a room that’s too cold or too hot.

This process will take away your concentration. Warm rooms can make you feel tired and sleepy. A cold room might help you stay awake, but your body will need to use its energy to keep you warm instead.

3.     Poor Sleeping Habits

Sleep is a crucial process for memory retention.  During deep sleep, the brain is hard at work – consolidating new information in your long-term memory. Thus, it is imperative that you get quality sleep.

Getting good sleep will also improve your energy, mood, and focus the following day. While on the other hand, having a bad quality sleep will make you sleepy, drowsy, and groggy, along with an uncomfortable sensation of having a foggy brain.

Therefore, you need to ensure proper sleeping conditions that will help you attain deep sleep. make sure you get proper sleeping hours, 7-8 hours every night.

Consider also other factors in your bedroom such as your bed mattress, room temperature, room lighting, and noise level in your room. Adjust them accordingly to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

Taking quick naps during the day is also a good idea to boost your energy as long as you keep it moderate. Excessive napping will only disturb your natural sleeping cycle, especially during afternoons.

4.     The Material of your Study Desk

Pay attention to the material of your study desk. One type of study desk material you need to avoid at all costs is glass.

Glass has a cold surface. When the room is cold, the glass will absorb the room temperature. When parts of your body come in contact with the surface of the desk which is made from glass, your body will become cooler. As a result, your body temperature will also drop and will produce more energy to warm itself.

Natural wood is considered to be the best material for a study desk. But wood actually has its pros and cons.

While it is usually reliable and comes in a variety of shapes and colors, it also requires proper care and, in some cases, can be really expensive.

Cheaper options, on the other hand, can have defects that would make you uncomfortable and, what’s worse, could be processed with low-quality materials. Therefore, choose your study desk materials carefully to ensure you can use them comfortably.

5.     Poor Diet

Our brain needs enough nutrition and good rest to function well. Thus, eating nutritious food and having enough sleep are important.

Sometimes we skipped a meal or eat junk food because we are too busy to eat properly. Unfortunately, eating fast food will leave you feeling lethargic and tired because they are filled with sugar, salt, grease, and fat.

For your study, you will need your body and mind at their peak state in order to function at their best. 

Therefore, start building a healthy diet and healthy eating habits by eating vegetables and fruits that can help nourish your body.

Don’t overdose yourself with caffeine as it will likely lead to a poor night’s sleep, which is bad for you since one of the most important things you can do to study well is to get a good night of sleep.

6.     Cluttered Study Space

You don’t need to have a big room with the best materials you can find to furnish and decorate your study room. You just need to make sure that you have a productive study space

The arrangement of furniture in your study room can affect your focus. Set your desk where you can get natural lights. Avoid putting your study desk and chair too close to the door.

Arrange your things neatly and avoid clutter. Having clutter within your field of vision, for example, can increase stress levels and prevent you from attaining maximum learning efficiency.

Clean and organize your study area often. Make sure everything has a proper storage location to keep your desk distraction-free. 

Put on some air fresheners, plants, any kind of decorations, or anything that will lift your mood and boost your productivity.

7.     Poor Study Habits

Another thing that we often overlook that prevents us from studying better is our study habits. Sometimes we didn’t realize we have some poor study habits, such as studying in our bed instead of sitting properly at our desks, for example.

These habits will force us to study in an uncomfortable position that will not only affect our posture and might lead to a stiff neck but will also negatively impact our ability to focus.

As adult students and student moms or dads, we have little time to study. With so many things going on in our life, sometimes we have to study anytime and anywhere to make good use of our free time.

We read some study materials while waiting for our children to finish their swimming lessons, we were working on our projects and assignments while they were napping, and so on.

Even if the spot is not ideal at all, If you want to study, see to it that you are in the most comfortable spot you can find.

Do not settle for a broken armchair, or your carpet, or the bus. The more comfortable you feel, the more you can focus on your study.

Over to You

Studying takes preparation and commitment. But if you already put in your best effort in studying but still don’t have the results you desire, you’ll need to check on some external factors we often overlook that could prevent us from studying better.

 Those external factors could be poor lighting in your study room or study desk or a room temperature that is too cold or too hot.

Don’t forget to check your study desk material. If it’s made from glass, change them into one made of natural wood. Avoid cluttering your study room or study space and clean them regularly.

You might also have poor study habits and a poor diet. If you do, change them immediately to make sure you improve your productivity and get better results in your study.

By understanding the factors that disrupt your productivity, you can come up with healthier study habits that will help you succeed.

What do you think? Do you agree with the points I mentioned above? Have you experienced any discomfort in studying? What caused it?

Share the experience in the comment section down below, I would love to hear from you. Please Pin this and share the post on social media, it will mean the world to me

Thanks so much and till next time!!

Related Articles:

• How to Create a Productive Study Space for Adult Learners/ Student Moms
• Why Studying in Public Places Will Immensely Boost Your Productivity as Student Moms
• What to Do When You Feel Stuck With Your Studies.
• Never do These Harmful Habits Before Exams If You Want to Have Good Grades

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