Sacred Study Space
It’s the beginning of the school year. Perhaps your goal is for this year to be different. You want it to be less stressful. You want to be more organized. You plan to turn in work on time. Staying on top of tasks is truly a top priority. Good for you! A New Year’s resolution in September.
As an Executive Function coach, I share lots of tools and strategies with clients to address these issues. We could have hourlong conversations about how to stay more organized, how to create a useful binder, how to keep track of assignments – really, how to reduce stress. But, do you want to know the most important thing at this time of year? It’s your work space. Seth Perler, Executive Function guru, calls it your SSS, the Sacred Study Space. Creating a space in your home where you (or your child) can really focus is critical.
Think about it. Adults have spaces that are dedicated to focusing on certain tasks. The kitchen, for example, has all the things needed for cooking. The garage might have tools for woodworking or working on cars. Most also have an office (or at least a desk or a flat surface) where they can use their computers and focus on their work.
Students also need a dedicated space where they can go to focus on school work. My student clients have some things in common when it comes to a work space, though. They often do homework and study in places that are not conducive to studying, like their beds or the couch. And they often work in places that have too many distractions, like video games or YouTube or music or just too many tabs open on their computers. This causes work time to drag on and on. Something that could take 30 minutes ends up taking hours.
I don’t want you to work for hours. I want you to do your work and then get on with your life!
How to create the Sacred Study Space (SSS), according to Seth Perler (edited by me).
Plan. Discuss what is the optimal study space. Plan for the senses. Consider what helps you to focus. What is distracting - visually, auditorily, etc? Carefully consider noise, lighting, temperature, or anything else that matters to you.
Choose where the BEST place would be. It might be in your bedroom, but many times it is not. Be realistic about what you really need in order to focus.
Make it a clean slate. Get everything off the study area. Clean off all trash, paper, books, paper clips, everything. Start with a clean slate.
Begin to set it up intentionally. What do you really need? Make sure supplies are within reach and that everything is comfortable. Have a home for everything. Don’t forget recycling and garbage. Take your time.
Keep a list. As you think of things to buy that would make it better, write it down. Consider an exercise ball as a chair or a standing desk, a calendar, calculators, white board, cork board; what about lighting, speakers, inspirational quotes, photos, good luck charms, earplugs, headphones, chargers and reference books? Add an analog clock, timers, fidgets, sticky notes and other tools that support your brain.
Take a break (!) and go get supplies from the list.
Finish the area.
Set ground rules with others in the house so they know how to respect your study needs.
If the dining room table or kitchen counter is the best place for your SSS, that can work, too. Just have a basket or box nearby with all the necessarily supplies.
Warning: Setting up your SSS will take time, but it is time well-spent. Parents, you can definitely help your child, but don’t do it for them. The goal is for them to gain this skill, so they can do it again in the future. And the key is for them to have input. It’s their space.
Once the SSS is in place, plan a time to tidy up every week or so. It must always be ready to be functional.
Good luck!
Little by little, change happens.
Find Seth Perler and a wealth of information at https://sethperler.com/
