National Work From Home Day: Unlock Better Study Habits
Today, June 27, is National Work From Home Day, a day that celebrates those who work from home and the employers who permit it.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics last year reported that an estimated 27.5 percent of private companies allowed their employees to work from home some or all the time.
And this figure doesn’t include the approximately 10 million Americans who work for themselves.
Just as millions of employees are working from home, you might also be preparing for the bar exam at home, too.
Working from home or preparing for the bar exam at home presents several challenges, including managing distractions like household duties and technology, juggling responsibilities without clear physical boundaries, and dealing with isolation without the usual social interactions from an office or classroom setting. Time management becomes crucial as work and study can blur into personal time, leading to potential burnout.
I recently revisited an older article from The New York Times titled, “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits,” that originally appeared on Sept. 6, 2010. It’s a reminder of some of the things you can you to make studying from home a bit more effective.
In the article, the author discussed how cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve how much a student learns from studying.
I want to highlight a few of the strategies identified in the article that you might want to incorporate into your studying if you have not done so already.
The article notes that “instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention.” The article goes on to state that:
… many study skills courses insist that students find a specific place, a study room or a quiet corner of the library, to take their work. The research finds just the opposite. In one classic 1978 experiment, psychologists found that college students who studied a list of 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms — one windowless and cluttered, the other modern, with a view on a courtyard — did far better on a test than students who studied the words twice, in the same room. Later studies have confirmed the finding, for a variety of topics.
As you’re studying for the bar exam, consider varying your study location, too. If you’re used to studying regularly in one room at home, consider going to a different room. Move from the kitchen to the living room to the dining room, for example. This simple change of scenery can not only refresh your mind but also potentially boost your memory retention and understanding, as varying environments engage different cognitive pathways.
Here are some additional concrete and specific tips that students can incorporate to make the most of this technique:
Designate Different Study Zones: Assign different types of study activities to different rooms. For instance, use your dining room for reading and note-taking where it's quiet, the living room for watching lecture videos or participating in online discussions where you might appreciate a more relaxed setting, and perhaps the kitchen for doing practice tests where you can stand and move around to stay energized.
Create a Study Rotation Schedule: Plan your study sessions around different rooms according to the time of day or the subject matter. Morning light in a sunlit part of your house might be perfect for complex analytical tasks like drafting bar exam essays, while the afternoon might be better spent in a cozy corner with softer lighting for reviewing case laws or statutes.
Optimize Each Space: Make each space conducive to studying by ensuring proper lighting, comfortable seating, and minimal distractions. In each room, have essential study supplies ready—like pens, highlighters, notepads, and review materials—so you can easily move from one space to another without wasting time.
Incorporate Nature: If possible, use spaces with views of the outdoors or incorporate elements of nature into your study spots. Studies suggest that exposure to natural light and views of nature can reduce stress and improve cognitive function. Even just a few plants or a window opened to let in fresh air can make a difference.
Change Scenery Beyond Home: Occasionally, change your study scenery to completely different locales such as a public library, a park, or a café. Each setting offers unique stimuli that can aid memory and learning by creating distinct associations.
Regular Reassessment: Every couple of weeks or so, assess the effectiveness of each study spot. If you find one location is becoming stale or less productive, consider revamping it or swapping it out for another space. This keeps your routine flexible and responsive to your learning needs.
By implementing a few of these strategies, you can maximize the cognitive benefits of studying on National Work From Home Day and every day.
