Achieving success with a dissertation requires a lot of hard work and dedication. One important factor contributing to success is having a productive workspace catering to your needs. Such a space can help you stay focused, manage your time efficiently, and alleviate stress. My role is to help elaborate on the advantages of having a productive workspace and provide valuable tips on creating one perfect for you. These tips will undoubtedly help you achieve your academic goals and make the most of your time.
Your workspace should be favorable to reducing distractions regardless of size. You can maintain focus by designating a specific period to work on your studies or dissertation. When it comes to background noise while working, different people have different tastes, whether it be a TV, a radio, or utter stillness. However, working diligently with fewer interruptions frequently leads to fewer mistakes, more reliable reading findings, and better comprehension and analysis of your work.
Throughout my experience in graduate school, I have encountered individuals who have a preference for what they call an "organized clutter" workspace. Although I can see how this style may be appealing, it may not be the most effective approach to managing the various tasks, meetings, and deadlines that come with graduate school. A reliable system makes it easy to feel overwhelmed and confident about where to start. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a dependable and efficient approach to managing your workload and optimizing productivity.
And the last thing you must remember about the workspace is that you can reduce stress if it is organized. Nothing is more distracting or disheartening than looking for that one document or piece of paper, and it's where you thought you placed it. The intent is for you to create an environment that creates less stress. And we know that graduate school alone is stressful, so why contribute to a setting you can control?
How can you create a suitable workspace:
Create a sign that displays your designated "study" hours by affixing it to your door, providing a visual cue to others in the household of your availability,
Set a consistent work schedule,
Designate a specific area, a desk, a section of your table, or any other area you feel comfortable in that is conducive to productivity.
Utilize a bulletin board to help you stay organized and ensure you keep track of all essential details, and
Invest in a shelving system or container to store your APA and dissertation manuals for accessibility.
If you're a doctoral candidate and student, I invite you to complete this 5-question survey about their office environments. Results will be shared in two weeks.