How to Make Your Dorm a Productivity Zone

In college, productivity is key. There’s always a distraction lurking around the corner that threatens to derail you from your path towards getting work done. If you like to work in the comfort of your dorm room, you should take all the steps necessary to turn your dorm into a productivity zone and avoid the distracting obstacles that could stand in your way.

Photo by borman818 on flickr.com

Here are some suggestions to maximize your productivity while working in your dorm:

Cleanliness is next to godliness

If you are going to be doing work in your room, make sure that you keep it cleaned. A cluttered desk usually means a cluttered mind. If you are able to keep your room neat, then you will also be able to have a sizable workspace where you’ll be able to spread out and get everything done.

Set the mood

Every person is different, so setting the mood for work in your dorm room will mean different things to different people. Some people like to listen to music when they study, others require total silence. Getting the right atmosphere in your room is of the utmost importance.

Your bed is for sleeping

One way to kill your productivity is to study or work in bed. Yes, being productive has everything to do with being comfortable, but it is a poor choice to sit on your bed to do work. Make sure you have a desk and workspace that will put you in the mindset for work. Working on your bed does not put you in a productive mindset; indeed if you have reading to do, then being on your bed will only cause you to fall asleep. So stay awake and stay away from your bed.

The Internet is your enemy

The biggest challenge facing college students and their level of productivity is the Internet. With innumerable distractions only a click away, the web can spell disaster if you have a lot to get done. Whether it’s Facebook or YouTube, there’s a site out there for everyone that can ruin your plans to get stuff done. Turn off your connection or download a program like Self Control, which lets you stop yourself from logging on to those distracting sites.

Let there be light

Having bright light in your dorm can make a huge difference when you are busy at work. A dimly lit room strains your eyes, which are your studying muscles. If your eyes are tired, you are not going to want to work. By having good light in your room, you continue to set the right mood for working and you give your body the best chance to be successful.

Good fences make good neighbors

Whether you live in a double or single, dorm life can be distracting. The people who live nearby (who should be studying too…) can oftentimes be as distracting as the online culprits discussed above. Locking your door can make all the difference. Make sure that there’s no way for anyone to just barge in and knock you off course.

Harrison Kratz is the Community Manager at MBA@UNC, the distance learning mba program offered through the University of North Carolina. Harrison also sticks to his entrepreneurial roots as the founder of the global social good campaign, TweetDrive.