Creating a Study Space: How to Set up Your Desk

Everyone who’s ever studied will be familiar with the procrastination demon; the voice in the back of your head that creeps in when you’re trying to revise. Like the devil on your shoulder, it whispers all the things you’d rather be doing in your ear. It’s attempts to distract you only get worse with time, and all you can do is push it aside and hope you can finish your project in time.

But, there are ways to eradicate its hold on you. First and foremost, you must create a study space that you want to work in. One that cooperates with your tendency to procrastinate, rather than fights it. That sparks creativity and brings to life all those ideas that are stored in your head just waiting to be set free. Whether you’re at university, taking your masters, or studying to become a licensed accountant, LHA London wants you to achieve the best result you can, and so we’ve shared our tips on how to create a study space that speaks to you, with all the practical elements thrown in too.

Starting tips

Before we start on the bigger details of desk orientation, we wanted to start with a few overall tips for creating a study space. It’s true that the items you have on your desk are vital, but there’s so much more that goes into creating a productive space than you might realise.

Not to mention that every person is different and will need different things for their desk. So take in these sage words of advice before popping down to a stationery shop to find the right orientation and atmosphere for you:

1. Make sure you have everything you need within reach

The aim of the game is to have a desk that is convenient, and so you need to make sure you have everything you need within reaching distance. We don’t mean you should be confined to your desk for hours on end, so please don’t try putting a kettle and water tank on your desk.

Sitting for long periods of time is proven to be bad for your posture, as well as your mental health, and you should get up every hour to shake yourself out, whether this involves making a cup of tea, having a quick reset by literally shaking yourself out, or doing a few stretches.

However, if you need to get up 5 minutes into studying because you’ve misplaced your highlighters or forgotten to plug in your lamp, you’ll lose your flow.

So make sure you have everything you need before you start studying. If you’re famously forgetful, then making a list of things before you start can get you into the right mindset because you’ll need to walk yourself through your upcoming tasks to do so.

2. Personalise it to you

It’s no good having a dull, lifeless desk if you feel productive in colourful spaces. Likewise, if you find clutter and colour everywhere takes your mind off task, then don’t listen to any advice that tells you to plaster multicoloured post-it notes on a white board.

Keep in mind that your brain is unique, and you may need to adjust your space over time to find the right studying formula for you.

And, whatever this formula is, it should only be a reflection of how you study best, not how anyone else tells you to study.

Paperclips and stacks of paper everywhere, fidget toys in every corner, neatly organised folders with categorised labels and a finely honed system – as long as it gets the job done, there is nothing wrong with your process.

3. Consider the temperature

Being too warm or too cold can impact how your brain functions (and how quickly your fingers move).

You need to be comfortable.

If you’re worried about heating bills, or you prefer to be cosy, then we’d recommend always having a jumper, warm socks, and a blanket nearby to grab when it gets a bit chilly. Similarly, a small desk fan goes a long way in summer.

When you stay with LHA London, all of your bills are included in your rent, so you won’t have any surprise costs thrown at you if you need a warmer space to study in. We take pride in providing consistency and comfort across our available accommodation.

4. Make your study space separate

This may sound a little far fetched, but studies have proven that having a clear boundary between where you work and where you chill out vastly improves mental performance and mental health.

For this reason, you need to make sure that your study space is separate from the space you use to relax so that when you sit at your desk, you’re ready to work. This also means that when you get into your relaxing space, you’re actually able to switch off.

If you make a habit of studying from your bed or sofa, then it might be time to stop, particularly if you’re having trouble sleeping and/or studying.

Desk essentials

Stationery

The stationery you need will obviously depend entirely on which subject you’re studying and how you prefer to study, and you’ll know what you need far better than we do.

But, in case you need a little bit of prompting, these are our recommendations:

• Pens
• Pen pot/holder
• Highlighters
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Stapler and staples
• Sticky notes
• Pencil and rubber
• Paperclips
• Notebook
• Maths equipment

Paper tray/organisers

An often missed and yet necessary item to have on your desk is a paper tray, or some way to organise loose revision sheets.

It’s so easy for these to get lost, and it will make your life far easier if you can just reach into a neatly organised stack of papers and find them.

Top tip: When stacking paper or organising it into folders, make sure you use clearly labelled tabs so you know exactly where to find everything.

Desk shelf

Never underestimate the power of a shelf in your study space.

When you’re studying, there is so much material that you need to have spread out in front of you, and having all of your stationery and books and lamp and diary laid across the space you need to work in will eventually start to cause friction between you and your desk.

So many people make the mistake of thinking they need a bigger desk, when what you really need is a cleverly placed shelf to put everything on so it’s not in your way. Your pen pot, your folders, your books, your desk accessories, your little plant. All of these can just be plopped up onto a shelf, and you’ll immediately have the full range of your desk back.

Now, if you live in rented accommodation then you might already be thinking that you’ve hit a barrier because you’re not allowed to fix anything to your wall. But, you can buy free standing shelving that will tuck nicely against the back of your desk.

You don’t need anything fancy with built-in shelves and multiple compartments, because a nice, affordable standing shelf will look nice and keep your stuff elevated and out of your way.

Radio/bluetooth speakers

Maybe this isn’t an essential for everyone, but if you’re the sort of person that requires ambient noise to focus, then speakers might just be your ticket to great productivity.

Why? It’s simple. If you’re playing music out of your phone, then your phone is probably on the desk next to you. And, if it’s on the desk next to you, then you might just be tempted to pick it up. Just for a second. Just to check if you’ve got any texts. Just to quickly change the song. And once your phone is in your hand, that’s when the problems begin.

When you give in to the temptation of grabbing it, you fall into the trap of accidentally spending more time than you intended to scrolling on social media, or researching irrelevant information. Maybe getting into a back and forth reel exchange with your friend that realistically could have waited a few hours.

Removing this temptation is one of the kindest things you can do for your brain while you’re trying to study.

As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.

And, if you get a cheap little bluetooth speaker, you can still have access to your dedicated study playlist. Or ambient noise. Or a podcast. Whatever works for you.

Calendar and diary

You only need one, but we recommend both.

One is portable, one is right in your face.

You can take your diary to class. You can take it to a coffee shop. You can grab it when you’ve got a new study session planned and need to write it out.

But, when you’re sitting at your desk, it’s really difficult to forget or miss the exam dates that are right in front of your eyes. It seems silly, but it can be easier than you think to forget to open your diary one week and then miss something.

The other benefit of having both is that a wall calendar gives you an overview of the month rather than just a week. And, a diary will help you plan your days in a little more detail than a wall calendar can.

We also recommend a daily planner/desk pad so you can plan out your study time, and set yourself goals.

Alarm clock

Very few people think of or even want to have an alarm clock on their desk, but for the same reason you should have a speaker, you should have an alarm clock. It’s only natural to want to know what the time is but, and we’ve said this before, when you pick up your phone to check the time, you might see a text from someone.

Then the temptation to reply instead of study sets in.

It’s easier to have a physical clock so you can keep track of the time without a whole communication and games system attached. You may also find it useful for timing practice essays, or setting an hourly alarm to remind you that it’s time to get up and do some quick stretches.

Research material

We don’t think we need to tell you that a crucial part of your desk is your study material, including any research books, notebooks, previous lecture notes and anything else you need to conduct research.

If you work on your laptop and primarily do online research, then this may take prevalence over stacks of books. Either way, having it readily available on your desk and not hiding in a bag somewhere is key.

Fidget toys

Fidget toys are particularly helpful for neurodivergent people who need something to do with their hands whilst they focus on other things. However, they can be useful for those who aren’t neurodivergent too.

They provide a form of entertainment and stimulation that isn’t distracting, and scratches the pen clicking itch. Of course, if you’re happy to keep clicking your pen then go for it, but here are a few examples of other fidget toys/gadgets that are handy to have in case you need them:

• Fidget spinners
• Fidget cubes
• Clickers
• Worry stones
• Poppers
• Fidget tangles
• Stress balls

Water bottle

You need water. You need it when you study.

Keep your water bottle close to your desk. Always.

Bin

You need a bin at your desk to throw old notes away, wrappers from study snacks and other bits and bobs that may get in your way. Have a bin there so you don’t have to get up to get the clutter off your desk.

Where to position your desk

The positioning of your desk can impact productivity, and we recommend doing the following:

1. Choosing a space with natural light

Our brains are proven to function better in natural light because it helps promote serotonin, keep your brain awake and lively, and those with access to lots of natural light have shown less signs of stress.

Natural light = natural productivity.

2. Find somewhere with wall space

Wall space means extra room for storage. Even if you focus better facing open space, positioning your desk so the side is against a wall opens up the ability to place free standing shelving in a stable place.

3. Get away from distraction

Avoid spaces with access to a TV, gaming computer or other likely distractions. If you’re in shared accommodation or a studio apartment, try and make sure your TV is behind you. Otherwise, throw the remote control in a drawer somewhere out of reach.

How to position your chair

The way you position your chair is important. More than that, it’s essential to maintaining healthy posture and preventing a number of health issues caused by sitting poorly or straining your body.

You must:

1. Position it at the right height: Your feet should rest flat on the floor with your knees at a 90 degree angle. 
2. Adjust the backrest: The backrest of your chair should provide support for your lower back. Adjust the angle of the backrest so it leans slightly backward to reduce pressure on your lower back. 
3. Adjust the armrests: Your armrests should be positioned so that your arms rest comfortably at a 90 degree angle when typing. The goal is to relieve strain from your shoulders and wrists. 
4. Position your laptop/monitor: Your monitor should be at eye level, so you’re not tilting your head up or down while working. The top of your monitor screen should align with your line of sight when sitting up straight. 
5. Find a comfortable chair: It’s no good having everything positioned correctly if you’re not comfortable in your chair. Ergonomic chairs are said to be the most comfortable and best for your posture, but they can be quite pricey. Make sure you sit in a few chairs to find ones you like before bringing it home or looking online. This will make all the difference.

Desk decoration

As mentioned previously, how you decorate your desk is down to personal preference. The colours that make you happy, the little comforts that keep you going. This is all up to you.

But, here are a few ideas for personalising your desk:

Desk plant

Greenery is known to improve mental health and having a little plant can brighten your desk with very little effort. If you want a plant but aren’t particularly green fingered then a small cactus or succulent might be the right choice for you.

Trust us, it will make you smile every time you sit down and take up very little space.

Keep it clean

Tidy room, tidy mind. It’s true. It really is.

White board/pin board

If you’re visually motivated then a white board or pin board can really brighten up your desk. You can stick notes to it, revision posters, motivational cards, reminders, daily planners, images, even twinkly lights for the evenings.

White boards can help you muddle your way through equations or draft out mind maps before you commit them to your official notes. They look good and contribute to your productivity.

A snack tray

This may be a divisive one, but some people might want a snack tray on their desk. Some would prefer to have the snacks out of sight so you can take little breaks and reward yourself with a chocolate bar, others like to have brain fuel on hand to keep them going during longer sessions.

But, you can be creative with how you store your snacks and they don’t have to be confined to a drawer.

Lighting

Another thing that’s really up to preference, but you could decorate your desk with a lamp. If you don’t like using lamps, then there’s really no reason to put one on your desk. That would be a very style over substance decision, and although it might look good, it would be a waste of money.

So think carefully about whether you really want to use your lamp before you invest in one.

However, if you’re studying in shared accommodation, then a lamp could help you out on evenings where your roommate wants to sleep and you still have some studying to do. They turn off the main light, you flick on your lamp. It’s a win win.

If you’re relocating to London and need affordable accommodation with plenty of space to study for your upcoming exams, then there’s nothing like the comfort of LHA London.

Our hostels cover all major points on London’s map and cover your bills too, so you don’t need to worry about any additional costs while you focus on building the life you want.

For more information about how our charity can help you get set up in the big city, take a look at our available accommodation and don’t forget to check out our offer to discover what we can offer you.

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