etudiance:

Teeny Tiny Study Spaces: how to organize your study space, and the lack thereof

There are a lot of posts out there with tips on how to keep your study area/space/zone (whatever you want to call it) neat and organized. The thing is, it can be a bit tough when your desk/study space is super small.

So here are some ways to keep your study zone organized, despite it’s small size!

Have A Shelf

No seriously, you need somewhere to put your stuff. It doesn’t have to be a bookshelf, or something super fancy. Fun fact #1: Until very recently, I’ve been using shelves that were homemade (by yours truly) out of cardboard boxes. They stood strong for a long time, and I was sad to depart with them.

You can make a small shelf with boxes too! As long as whatever you put in it doesn’t weigh as much as five textbooks, then you’re good. You always need a place to put the little things, or organize papers, or stuff like that. When (or if) you have a minuscule desk, there just isn’t room for those kind of things.

Magazine Holders Aren’t Just For Magazines

I use these all the time, and they are incredibly helpful when it comes to organizing loose papers, or your notebooks, or things like that. Fun Fact #2: I also make these myself, and it’s really easy! Cereal boxes can be kind of flimsy and small, but they’re great for just holding papers. Besides that, other boxes are also easy to use. But if you’re not into the ‘make it at home’ kinda thing, it’s perfectly fine to go ahead and buy some magazine holders.

Boxes Are Your New Best Friend

Here’s the deal, not everything can be on a shelf or in a neat little magazine holder. But leaving your stuff on the floor (I am guilty of this too) is a bad idea. That’s where the boxes come in!

You can buy them or you can make them, either way they’re equally as helpful. Fun Fact #3: I use my homemade boxes more than my store bought ones, I’m not entirely sure why.

So grab a box, and put your stuff inside. Grab several boxes, and organize your stuff inside. Keep your textbooks in one (honestly this depends on how many textbooks you have, I usually just keep mine on the floor, but in a neat way!) or use one like a little file drawer, and file your papers inside. There are thousands of different ways to use a box to organize yourself, it’s up to you and what you want to do!

Keep Your Stationery Stationery

Everyone loves their stationery, no matter what kind it is. I’m fond of my century old (note the exaggeration) pencils as well as my brand new ones. The thing is… I can’t afford to have them all over the place. There just isn’t enough space in my study space for that kinda thing.

So here’s what you do. There are a whole lot of desk organizers and stationery organizers out there, and there are a lot of them in your house right now. Yes, I’m being serious, this is also something you can use household items for. In fact, a lot of people like making their own pen holders and desk organizers, because you can personalize them. Fun Fact #4: I use my own stuff to keep my stationery stationery. And you can do it too!

Know Where Everything Is

Are you going to know where everything is, all the time? No way. But you should still make sure you’re aware of the general location of most things. Have a system- or don’t, as long as you know where the stuff is it’s fine tbh- and know that system (or the lack thereof). That way, when you’re looking for the notebook you bought when going back-to-school shopping three months ago, you’ll be able to find it.

Use Your Walls

I don’t mean use your walls as a desk (but if you want to do that, I guess I can’t stop you?). I mean use them to hang up stuff, like important reminders or things you know you look back to often. Instead of keeping your calendar on your desk, which can take up a lot of room, put it up on your wall.

I know that this might be a little hard for some people, because some of the things we use to hang stuff up can often ruin your wallpaper or paint. If this is an issue, try using tape- generally tape that isn’t super adhesive. In my experience, that leaves the least amount of marks on walls.

Keep It Neat

Always, always clean up your study space once you’re done for the day. Letting random things accumulate all over the place is not only a bad idea, but also super aggravating when you have to clean it all up at once. It also takes a lot of time. Remember, everything has a place, and unless you’re using said thing, it should be in it’s place.

Now you know some super easy ways to keep your study zone organized. I hope this was helpful and that you have an awesome day today!

-Aza

(via studystreak-deactivated20170313)