You have a cup of hot coffee, a clean notebook, and a fully charged laptop. Today is the day you are going to write that paper, review a report, or learn the 12 cranial nerves; whatever the task, you are prepared! Until someone sits next to you and starts to type loudly, or giggle as he tweets or clears her throat every 45 seconds. Some people can tune out this extraneous noise without any effort. Most of us, however, cannot. You sit and squirm as you read the same passage over and over, totally distracted by your annoying neighbor. Now would be the time to pull out your pair of Sens Gard Ear Chambers and make all that nonsense go away!
Studies indicate that ambient noise does have a negative effect on learning. According to an article in Scientific American, the presence of unwanted noise can lead to stress, causing a release of cortisol. This increase in this hormone in turn affects the function of the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for storing and retaining information. Long story short, we want stress kept to a minimum. Side from noise, what other environmental factors affect our ability to concentrate and learn?
Temperature - not too hot or you may get sleepy
Lighting - enough, but not too bright
Smell - if there is an unpleasant odor, your brain may get preoccupied
Seating - comfy, but not conducive to napping
Level of organization: a clean, organized work space is easier to navigate than random piles
Phone/computer - the mother of all distractions!
The phone. No one is far from their lifeline to the world within our world: the internet and social media. Depending on how disciplined you are, it may be best to tuck this item away and bring it out as a reward. For example, after I read 3 chapters of Jane Eyer I can check and see what is happening with Branjelina. Or after 20 minutes of geometry, I get 10 minutes on FaceBook. You get the idea. If the phone is just sitting there, begging to be picked up, sucking time and energy from the user. Better yet, if you are home, put your phone in a different room. Reducing temptation is the key!
Once these factors are controlled and you find what type of environment works for you, use it! For instance, if you find you get the most work done in a quiet library don’t try to accomplish the same amount of work in a busy coffee shop. It may take a little bit of trial and error upfront, but worth it in the end. Of course, always fold up a pair of Ear Chambers to have on hand for the unplanned for events like a clicking heater or a snoring neighbor!