The Academic Wind Down From Your Room

Exam season hits and suddenly your room becomes your entire world. The library is packed, the common room is too loud, and your bed is dangerously close. So here are some tips on how to have to make your little space actually work for you.

First things first: the desk situation. Clear. Everything. Off!!!!

That pile of receipts, the empty water bottles, the random flyer from freshers you never threw away. GONE! You need a clean surface and good lighting. If your desk lamp is terrible, a cheap light from Amazon does wonders. I got a smart bulb and it changed everything. You can adjust the colour and brightness depending on whether you are grinding through readings or winding down.

This is the one I got (just for reference). If you're buying one, make sure it's compatible with your desk lamp!

So, your desk should like something like this:

Next, sort out your cables.

You do not need anything fancy, just make sure you are not tripping over a charger every time you stand up. Organise what you have, keep your laptop charged, and you are already in a better spot than most people studying from bed.

Once your desk is clear and your laptop is ready, grab your headphones (noise cancelling if you have them) and get going. 

Now, snacks. This is non negotiable.

You need a rotation. Something salty, something sweet, something that feels like an actual meal when you cannot be bothered to go to the kitchen. Crackers and hummus are elite. A bag of dried mango or nuts keeps you going without the sugar crash. For me, diet coke is a MUST!

And always have tea or coffee stocked because the kettle in the kitchen is your best friend during deadline week. Every LSE accommodation has a supermarket nearby for you to stock up.

The breaks matter just as much as the work.

Sitting at your desk for eight hours straight is not productive, it is just suffering. Step outside for ten minutes, even if it is just walking around the building. Put on a podcast or a comfort show for twenty minutes. Stretch. Call someone from home. Whatever gets your brain out of essay mode for a bit.

The real trick is making your room feel like somewhere you choose to work, not somewhere you are trapped. Because if you are going to spend three weeks locked in, you might as well be comfortable.

You got this.