Why College Students Should Declutter Their Study Spaces

One of the most important things for college students is finding the time and space to focus on their academic obligations. Experts indicate that students who create dedicated and organized study spaces report better academic performance and improved wellness. This article focuses on why you need to create and maintain a clean study space.

Why Keep Your Study Space Clean?

The short answer is that having a clean and tidy space is good for your concentration and academic performance. According to a recent study, students who created study spaces away from noise and distractions could memorize concepts better and reported finer grades overall. The study also found that students with dedicated and organized study spaces were much less irritable and more productive. Here are some reasons why your study environment should always be clutter-free:

Clutter Is Bad for Your Health

Having pieces of folded paper and dirty clothes around your study room is bad for your efficiency and can also harm your health. According to research, clutter is distracting and forces our brains to switch rapidly between things. Such seemingly harmless disorganization can have cumulative negative effects on our brains. It increases cognitive overload and lowers working memory.

Clutter also harms our health by increasing the risk of tripping and falling. There is also the risk of fire since poorly arranged study materials and clothes are highly flammable and pose a serious risk. Also, keeping your study room clean is good for your mental health. Evidence shows that people who work in disorganized spaces tend to experience more fatigue. So, for your mental health, ensure your study room stays neat and restful. If you need help, work with an online essay writing service.

Tidiness Improves Productivity

Another reason to keep your study space clean is that there is evidence linking tidiness to improved productivity. When your room is neat, your brain will be able to focus better, eliminating distractions and concentrating on the tasks at hand. Also, a clutter-free environment allows you to work for longer periods without feeling fatigued or needing a break. It is because clutter overworks the brain, taking attention from what matters. In other words, the presence of clutter is bad for your academic performance.

Clutter Creates Stress and Anxiety

Evidence links chronic clutter to low-level anxiety, which makes students experience constant feelings of being on edge. You may not understand the reasons for your anxiety until you start improving your study space’s tidiness. As a student, you will be spending considerable time in your study room. If you already have an existing case of anxiety, clutter can be a trigger, worsening things and making life hard for you around others.

Evidence also shows a relationship between clutter and increased stress hormones. It causes tension and impedes students’ ability to cope with daily challenges. In addition, the presence of clutter leads to avoidance strategies like consuming junk food and oversleeping, which can also affect students’ mental and physical health.

Researchers have explored how clutter affects stress. According to the findings, clutter has a tendency to overrun the brain with unnecessary stimuli, forcing the sense to work excessively at processing insignificant information. Also, chaos takes our attention from what is important, leaving us struggling to meet deadlines at the last minute.

Tidiness Improves Collaboration

One of the most important reasons to favor tidiness is that it simplifies work and makes collaboration with others easier. According to research, collaborative learning is the most effective form of instruction. Clutter makes it hard for students to invite others over for group discussions. Tidiness is also highly valued when sharing space. Your peer will be able to locate resources with ease, particularly when working on a joint project.

How to Keep Your Study Space Tidy

Now that we have demonstrated the need to have clean and clutter-free study spaces, it is time to look at a few strategies students can use to organize their rooms. Remember, when on campus, your study room is your sanctuary. However, you must minimize distractions and organize your space to be productive and healthy.

Clutter diminishes productivity and is bad for your health. Instead, start organizing your space by keeping items away when you are done using them. It means keeping your phone out of reach when working on an important project. It also helps to color code your materials, making it easy to identify your needs. Also, have a wide assortment of writing materials and keep all your chargers in one place.