Apartment Lifestyles Of A Successful Student
It’s your first year living in an apartment on campus and you’re freaking out because simply, you don’t know if you’ll be a successful student when you’re faced with the apartment life. One way to help with all the anxiety is making sure you purchase the right amenities for your apartment.
Here is a list of things that will benefit you and your student lifestyle.
Open Environment
Depending on the type of college student you are, you will probably enjoy the comfort of an open space environment to study in. Although there are a variety of places where students can essentially work on homework and study for exams, an apartment space can potentially be the most ideal. If you like peace and quiet, it’s best to set up your study space in your room.
You can easily block yourself from outside surroundings and drown out external sound by listening to music or closing your door. Creating an ideal study space also means cleaning up and organizing your space. If your room is always a mess, think twice about studying in this area. Like all clothes on the floor, your stress will pile up immeasurably.
Another area in your apartment that can be used as an open study space can be your living room. If you enjoy the company of your roommates and you don’t mind them talking to you from time to time, then the living room is the way to go. In most apartments, the living room is the largest space. Your whole apartment can be used as a study space and it is up to you where you find yourself most productive.
Sleeping Soundly
When it comes to naps and a full night’s rest, sleep is vital for all human beings, especially for hard working college students like yourself. Make sure you purchase comfortable bedding materials for your bed at your apartment.
If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, waking up constantly or tossing and turning, something is definitely wrong with the way your bed is set up.
WebMD suggests that people sleep better when their bedrooms are comfortable and clean. A mattress pad can add an extra layer of comfort to your bed so you should consider purchasing one the next time you’re at your local department store.
Staying Organized
If you’re the type of student to be organized, hanging up a calendar in your room can assist you greatly. Listing all of your exam dates, homework assignments and meetings can help you stay on top of your game.
Through this, you will be able to prepare for what’s next and carry out tasks that you have for the day. Knowing your schedule can help you avoid cramming last minute and staying up late at night.
Temperature
Don’t forget to pay that utilities bill! Believe it or not, temperature can affect the productivity of a student. In a study done by the Society for Human Resource Management, they have found that when the thermostat was raised from 68 degrees to 77 degrees, 44 percent of errors were made. However, increased productivity begins at 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
With that being said, make sure you have a working air conditioner and heater. Depending on the type of season, find a temperature that all of your roommates can agree on to ensure work stays productive. If it’s too hot or too cold, it may be difficult to concentrate. Also, given the temperatures, one would be more susceptible to getting sick.
Staying Hydrated
According to Self, “a new study suggests that drinking H2O may … improve memory and reaction times.”
If you do not drink water when you are feeling dehydrated, you may feel lightheaded and have a decreased ability to feel pain and a slower response time.
A great way to fuel yourself with water on the go is purchasing a water bottle container. Not only will you help save the environment but you will also save yourself from making frequent trips to the water fountain.
Study Lamps
If a light isn’t bright enough to lead the way, how will a student be bright enough to pass a course? Addressed in an article from Leds Magazine, “a recent study has demonstrated that artificial lighting simulating daylight was able to increase concentration and cognitive performance in studies.”
Artificial LED lighting causes circadian rhythms to shift forward so that students will be alert during the day. Also, this type of lighting tries to mirror light from the outside. Lamps such as Verilux SmartLight slightly differ in the fact that they use natural spectrum illumination. Not only does this improve visual clarity but it also improves visual performance by reducing the pupil size and making sure more light enters the eye.
Listening To Music
If you are the type to jam out to music while you’re studying, you should definitely consider purchasing a set of headphones or speakers to listen to at your apartment.
According to a study done by the University of Phoenix, they found that “some students can study effectively with music playing, while others are distracted by an outside stimulus.” Some music can be inspirational to others so choosing the right type of music is a MUST.
Examples of music genres that can benefit you with studying:
Classical Music –has been shown to increase concentration levels.
Ambient Music – keeps your brain engaged at a lower, subconscious level. (A great website for this: http://www.rainymood.com/)
Modern Electric Music – helps relax the mind and allows it to roam.
Baroque Music – has mind-boosting effects.