Lakshmi García
Staff Writer
If you’ve stumbled upon this article while procrastinating (miraculously, or more likely intentionally), congrats. You’ve found my very subjective list of the best (and unusually thought-provoking) study spots on- and off-campus.
As a fellow procrastinator, you can trust that these places will help you “lock in” as they have with me. Not for the sake of performance, but because something about these spaces activates the exact combination of panic, caffeine, and existential dread needed to get. Stuff. Done.
These are the actual spots that’ll get you zoning in, grinding out, and cramming a week’s worth of work into one panicked six-hour session. I’ve ranked them generously from least to most effective based on pure “lock-in-ability.”
1. Your Friend’s Much Cooler I.V. Apartment
We all have that one friend who won the I.V. apartment lottery. They have a ridiculously comfy couch, plants in every corner, and (if you’re lucky) an emotional support cat.
Their place is so well-decorated that it turns into a game of I Spy. You’ll spend at least 30 minutes asking about every trinket that looks like it came from a Parisian flea market but was actually $3 at Alpha Thrift.
What it gets right is comfort. You don’t run the risk of bumping into an “opp” or being ogled by a wide-eyed freshman tour group. Your friend might even offer tea out of genuine concern for your cold brew-induced eye twitch.
But let’s be real: if you’re pounding that much caffeine, the last place you want to shit yourself is in your friend’s thin-walled apartment where you can easily hear their roommate arguing mid-hookup about letting the cat out.
Still, the place has its charms. Outlets are conveniently placed. It smells like fresh laundry and good life choices. Being in a space that looks like someone has their shit together inspires you to get your shit together. Maybe not fully, but enough to finish the Google Doc you’ve had open for three days.
Plus, college creates a deep-rooted need for escapism. Escape from deadlines, noisy roommates, and the impending doom that you will, one day, (hopefully) graduate. Avoidance is key. And your friend’s apartment? That’s pure escapism. It’s the illusion of stability with a scented candle. It’s the promise that you will get shit done today because their wall-encouragements say so.
So go ahead, I encourage you to romanticize your burnout in someone else’s well-decorated living room. It’s cheaper than therapy and almost as effective.
2. Your Minimum-Wage On-Campus Job
Raise your hand if you still haven’t done your FERPA training!
One of the places I’ve been most productive? My job — doing things completely unrelated to my actual job. The number of last-minute Canvas quizzes I’ve submitted with 10 minutes to spare during a “panic focus” window is higher than I’d like to admit.
In between answering phone calls, helping drop-ins, and the occasional “let me go pretend to pee so I can walk around the building or scroll on my phone for 10 minutes,” there’s something about sitting at a desk that makes you feel important — like you could do anything.
And if you have good coworkers? Even better. If you’re lucky like me, you’ve developed a symbiotic dynamic with your boss who you feel should be older: they’re your confessional, and you’re their emotional support iPad kid in need of constant entertainment. Plot twist in your boss’s D&D campaign? You’re already rolling Insight checks on everyone in the office.
So open your laptop. Pat yourself on the back. Get some shit done. It just hits different when you’re getting paid for it — even if “it” isn’t in your job description.
Most of us show up to work either blitzed, blasted, or bummed from whatever just happened — or whatever’s about to — so capitalize on that energy! Game the system. Be radical. Write your late Zen Buddhism assignment under fluorescent lights and call it praxis. $16.50 an hour never felt so productive.
3. At Your “Happy Place”
Okay, this one’s my most genuine. The place I focus best? My garden. It’s something I’ve cultivated for months and built a relationship with. Obviously not everyone has a garden — but if you’re curious, I highly recommend starting one.
But if gardens aren’t your thing, I encourage you to ask: What makes a place feel good to you?
I work best when I’m at peace — when I don’t feel the need to check my phone. Where looking up gives me space to reflect, not escape. So I ask you: Where is that place for you?
And if you’re not sure yet, start simple. How do you check if you’ve found a good study spot?
- Do you have access to snacks that’ll fuel your brain and body?
- Can you move around and take breaks when you need to?
- Is there Wi-Fi? A portable charger or outlet?
- Are you able to focus on your work?
- Who’s around? Do they make you feel motivated?
- Do you actually want to stay here longer?
If the answer is yes, then congrats — you’ve found it. That’s your best study spot!