Studying in the Library vs Studying at Home

Have you ever wondered if where you study makes a difference in how you study? Perhaps studying in the library is more effective than studying at home or vice versa. Each option offers different pros and cons. It’s important to consider each one carefully and according to your learning style before deciding on a solitary method for studying.

Studying in the Library

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Studying in the library offers many benefits especially if you have trouble focusing in your home environment. It’s a quiet place in an academic setting that allows you to keep your mind centered on homework. Studying in the library may not be right for you, however. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons.

PROS

1. The library is an academically centered environment and will keep your brain focused on your studies.
2. It’s a great place to meet other students and form a study group.
3. There are no chores within sight to distract you from studying.
4. If you need to do any research, you have almost every possible book within reach.
5. If you have a tendency to isolate, this is a great way to get out amongst people without having to directly socialize.

CONS

1. There is usually a fairly large crowd at the library.
2. There may be noise from fellow study goers.
3. You have to pack up all your books, notes, laptop, etc to and from the library.
4. There may be distractions from other students who might be sneaking a phone call, walking to the bathrooms, or simply coming and going.
5. With no kitchen nearby, you’ll be limited to vending machines for the duration of your study trip.

There are a variety of positive and negatives to studying in the library and only you can decide if it is the right place for you.

Studying at Home

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Studying at home offers a unique, comfortable experience especially if you are burned out from school all day, have young children to take care of, or suffer from social anxiety. Sometimes studying at home is not the best option. Let’s, once again, look at the pros and cons.

PROS

1.  You can multi-task between homework and other responsibilities.
2. There’s no need to transport heavy books, notes, or computers.
3. You can play music or have television playing in the background.
4. Pets can come and help you study, providing much needed stress relief.
5. You can study any time of day, wearing your most comfortable PJ’s.
6. You can study in your own personal space with your own rules.

CONS

1. There are chores that could possibly distract you from getting your work done.
2. Family members or roommates might interrupt your studying.
3. All the noise might not suit your style of learning.
4. Sometimes pets can be a nuisance or want attention when you are super focused on your studies.
5. The chances of procrastination are higher due to all the technology at hand.

In this instance, I was able to come up with more positives than negatives to studying at home. However, it should be noted I prefer studying in my own personal space, so it might have been easier to come up with that sixth pro.

You might identify strongly with one particular way of studying. Don’t be afraid to mix it up, though. If you identified stronger with the pros of studying from home perhaps you could switch it up on the weekends and study at the library on Saturdays. Alternatively, form a study group with close friends and study at the library when your group gets together.

If you find studying at the library to be a more positive experience make sure you aren’t overdoing it. Spending all of your free time on campus will likely wear you down, leaving you exhausted and burnt out. Make sure you schedule some down time to recharge those batteries.

Wherever you choose to study, make sure you are getting the most out of your session. Get a good night’s sleep each night, drink plenty of water, and utilize all the tools at your disposal for your study session, such as flashcards. Happy studying!