How to study in noisy places (yes, it’s possible!)

A pair of noise-cancelling headphones can be a great investment for studying. You’ll also use them a lot when you travel, so the purchase won’t go to waste. 

In a perfect world, you’d be able to study from home in idyllic peace and quiet, with nothing but the birds chirping in the trees for background noise.

Unfortunately, study doesn’t always work out that way. Many Study From Home students are juggling study with busy family lives, part-time work, and other demands. This means that sometimes you might find yourself needing to do some study in a noisy environment.

But all is not lost – here are five hacks for studying in noisy places.

1. Invest in noise-cancelling headphones

If you are often in noisy environments, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones could be the best investment you’ll ever make. Not only will they help to drown out the background noise, they’ll also be worth their weight in gold next time you’re on an airplane.

2. Set expectations with family members

See if you can convince your kids to enjoy some ‘quiet time’ when you need to study. This might sound like an impossible task, but you never know unless you try! It might help to get creative. For example, you could buy them a special set of colouring books or paints that only come out when you need to study, or perhaps you could choose a TV show they could watch with headphones in for half an hour while you review your notes.

3. Choose easy tasks when you’re in a noisy environment

If you know you’re going to be in a noisy environment, write an ‘easy’ to-do list for that day. Pick tasks you’ll be able to achieve even if you’re a bit distracted, like emailing your tutors for advice or brainstorming ideas for your next assignment.

4. Listen to music

Some music is excellent for studying, such as classical music or house music (without lyrics). Put your earphones in and drown out the noise with some relaxing Bach or Beethoven! Check out our blog ‘Music to study by’ for inspiration.

5. Focus on your assignments, not the noise

When you’re in a noisy environment, it’s easy to focus on the source of the noise. Instead, see if you can use all your mental energy to focus on the task at-hand. If you achieve a deep level of concentration, you’ll find the noise will fade away into the background because you’ll be so absorbed on your assignment. It’s difficult to sustain this level of concentration for long periods of time, but it is possible if you try hard enough. Hint: it’s easier if you’re really, truly interested in the topic you’re studying.

Would you like the flexibility to Study From Home with ITC? Get in touch today to learn how we can help you get your airline, travel and tourism career off to a flying start.