CREATING BALANCE Loving Your Space! This session focused on ways to create a study space that students love, so they can be as productive, focused, and comfortable as possible. Consider ergonomic principles for physical comfort. Poor posture while studying can lead to headaches, tight neck, and shoulders. Avoid studying on the bed. If students’ study on their bed, ensure that this is only for short periods and to vary posture. The key is to change posture often and take regular ‘brain breaks’ for improved concentrations and focus. POSTURE TIPS AND REMINDERS
Remember to ‘Shine Your Light’ to help lift the chest and maintain the natural curves of the spine. Avoid slumping into a forward head posture while studying. Notice that ears sit above the shoulders, try drawing in the chin and place the tongue to soft palate to activate deep neck stabilising muscles.
ERGONOMICS AND HEALTH
Eliminate clutter and distractions. Create a space that is only for studying. Turn off phones and avoid TV and social media while studying. Take frequent ‘brain breaks. Try a 5-minute break after 25 minutes of study. Get up and move around to get the blood flowing back to the brain and feel energised and focused again. Try a ‘shake break’ for quick energy over the whole body. Practice at home mediation to help clear and balance the mind. Have a fresh look at the study space and set it up so that students enjoy studying. This is about being creative with the resources that you have.