How to Study Outside and Boost Your Learning Experience: 11 Tips

This article has everything you need to know about how to study outside.

Studying outdoors can be a refreshing shift in routine during warm weather. Various studies have suggested that studying outside can promote more creative thinking, reduce stress, and improve memory recall.

For individuals with ADHD or concentration difficulties, these benefits may be even more pronounced. Therefore, it’s recommended to take advantage of the great outdoors and study amidst nature. It’s a decision you won’t regret.

How To Study Outside:

1. Make sure to gather all the necessary items before you venture out in the sunshine for a lengthy study session.

Forgetting something important may disrupt your concentration and force you to return indoors. If you plan to read, it’s advisable to load multiple e-books onto a single device to enhance portability and avoid running out of reading material. Additionally, pack a snack and a water bottle to stave off hunger and thirst, which can be distracting and interrupt your flow.

2. Select a comfortable and secure location for your outdoor study session.

There are several suitable places to study outside, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. A park or a common area in your school is an excellent free option, but it can be too noisy and uncomfortable if you sit on the ground for too long.

An outdoor cafe with seating is a great alternative because you can work on a table and purchase food and drinks, but it can be costly, and the cafe might expect you to keep ordering. Your backyard, patio, deck, or balcony is another good choice as it offers more control over your surroundings, but it may not satisfy your desire to leave the house or socialize.

3. Choose a comfortable spot to settle down for your study session.

It’s a good idea to bring a blanket to sit on and spread out your materials. To avoid discomfort and stiffness, ensure that you support your back properly. Consider bringing a lawn chair or cushion to sit on instead of sitting on the ground for an extended period, which may disrupt your focus.

However, avoid becoming too comfortable and dozing off during your session. Refrain from lying down on your back with a pillow and blanket, as it may lead to drowsiness.

4. Consider the lighting when choosing your outdoor study location.

Natural light is ideal for studying, as it promotes concentration and calmness while reducing the chances of headaches. Select a spot with adequate lighting, but be mindful of direct sunlight, which can be overwhelming and make reading screens or white textbook pages challenging.

If you opt for a sunny area, be sure to apply sunscreen beforehand and bring sunglasses to protect your eyes. However, partial shade may be a more practical choice for extended studying sessions.

5. When studying outdoors, it’s essential to avoid obvious distractions that may hamper your concentration.

Although outdoor studying can prevent indoor distractions, such as video games or household chores, it can also present its own set of interruptions. When selecting your study spot, avoid locations with apparent distractions. For instance, while a park is a great spot to study (1), sitting near a playground filled with noisy children or an off-leash dog area can make it challenging to focus.

6. If you are someone who prefers to study with music, it’s a good idea to bring some noise-canceling headphones when studying outside.

Music can help you tune out distracting sounds in your environment, which can be plentiful when studying outdoors. Some people can handle studying amidst noise, but for others, sounds like barking dogs or people talking can make it challenging to focus.

To block out these sounds, listening to music that you’re familiar with and that isn’t too loud can be helpful. If you need to read, it’s best to listen to music without lyrics so that you won’t get distracted.

If possible, use speakers instead of headphones, as some studies suggest that wearing headphones can make it harder to retain information. Lastly, studying with some light background noise can help you acclimate to the sound of taking an exam in a classroom with other students.

7. To avoid distractions, consider disconnecting from technology while studying outside, especially if you don’t need the internet for your work.

You can switch your laptop to airplane mode or turn off your phone or put it in silent mode. Keep your phone away from you to avoid temptations. Working outdoors can help you break the habit of checking social media frequently, which is easier to do when studying indoors.

8. To keep yourself engaged and focused, try to incorporate a variety of study tasks while studying outdoors.

Doing so can help you stay motivated and avoid distractions. For example, you could read a chapter of a book for your English class, then switch to working on some math problems or reviewing foreign language flashcards (2). By varying your tasks, you can keep your study session interesting and maintain your concentration despite any distractions in your surroundings.

9. Studying outside can be more enjoyable than studying alone in your room because it can feel like a social activity.

You can make it more social by inviting a friend or a study group to join you. Even if you don’t talk much, being around others can give you a sense of social connection.

10. According to research, changing study locations can aid in better retention of information.

This is particularly advantageous when studying outdoors since there are typically more location options available than when studying indoors. Scientists suggest that studying in various settings provides a richer and more diverse contextual environment, which aids in preventing the brain from forgetting the material.

11. It’s essential to take breaks while studying outside, just like studying indoors, to help you stay focused and refreshed.

The advantage of studying outside is that you can utilize your breaks by engaging in some physical activity. Instead of scrolling through social media, consider taking a brief stroll or playing a game of frisbee. This will energize you and provide a fresh burst of concentration when you resume studying.

Studying outside can be a great way to switch up your study routine, but it requires some special considerations. Here are some tips for studying outside effectively:

Find a comfortable spot with good lighting that’s free from distractions.
Consider bringing noise-canceling headphones or speakers to play music that helps you focus.
Disconnect from technology or limit its use as much as possible.
Vary your tasks to keep it interesting.
Make it a social activity by studying with friends or in a group.
Move to different locations periodically to help retain information.
Take breaks and use them to get some exercise to stay invigorated.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article about how to study outside. I sincerely hope its contents have been a good help to you.