The Why, How, and Where of Outdoor Studying

Written by Lauren Smyth

Studying outdoors is a bit like knocking back a shot of espresso five minutes before an exam. You’ll get +2 energy, +2 comfort, +4 ability to stay awake, and, inevitably, -50 focus.

It all starts when your friend walks by. You’ve got to say hello and chat about the weather—gosh, that cloud would look just like a dinosaur if you drew in the teeth! Then the breeze drops by, scattering your homework to the next county and sending you scrambling to salvage that one physics assignment you can’t reprint. A plane flies over, and, well, you’ve got to look up at the plane, because it’s a plane and planes are cool. But now you have black spots on your vision from the sun, and come to think of it, you’ve got a headache, too, because your water bottle is empty and it’s an inconvenient walk to the closest drinking fountain. That’s the story of how most plans of studying outdoors get quickly scrapped.

If that’s the case against studying outside—or at least, against doing it without some forethought—there are also several benefits to consider. Even if you’re not working on your tan, studies have shown that hitting the books outside can improve information recall and creative thinking. Stocking up on vitamin D can also boost your immunity to the freshman flu. Sleep quality, energy levels, and even mental health may also improve. Maybe the great outdoors isn’t quite a cure-all, but it’s a great health booster for anyone whose energy levels tend to dip as the day progresses.

Now comes the hard part: How do you stay focused while you’re soaking up the rays?

Of course, it’s important to choose your study spot wisely. Find a place out of the wind, not too crowded, and not too far from any buildings you might need to access while you’re working. As you get to know campus, you’ll eventually find the perfect place to keep revisiting whenever the weather permits. (And if you aren’t sure where to go yet, there’s a handy list of popular spots below.)

But more importantly, and more frequently overlooked, is the fact that it’s easy to get dehydrated when you’re sitting in direct sunlight. That’s true even if you’re not getting particularly warm. To avoid a post-study headache, bring sunglasses, especially if you’re reading reflective white pages, and a full bottle of cool water. Treat your body like a supercharged plant and find some shade when you feel like you’re wilting.

It’s also a good idea to develop a mental checklist before you head out. Bring backup batteries or charge everything in advance. Make sure you have all your books, pencils, pens, highlighters, fancy coffee drinks, small plastic staplers, and anything else you might need. There’s nothing more frustrating and ambiance-ruining than realizing you forgot the one piece of paper that you simply can’t do without. Spare yourself the trouble and, even when you’re in a hurry to get started, pause for a moment to think things through.

Now that you’ve picked a spot and packed up, it’s time to get serious about studying. For me, the biggest distraction is always sound. If I hear a bird chirp, a plane fly overhead, or a noisy car drive by, I have to look up. And just like that, my concentration is ruined. The silver bullet for all my concentration problems turned out to be noise-canceling headphones. I’m talking top-notch active noise cancelation, the kind that would let you work in blissful quiet next to a hard-hat construction zone. Surround-sound silence or closed-off music can help put your brain into its own little world where study is the focus and everything else is peripheral. If you’re the type of person who is more distracted by visual movement, you can try a similar trick with a wide-brimmed hat or removing glasses to exercise only your near vision.

Speaking of eyesight, while you’re working, look up frequently to let your eyes readjust both to the light level and to more distant objects. Remember the 20-20-20 rule (which is also a nice pun) to avoid eye strain: Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. That’s Google doctor advice, but I personally can’t stare at a screen for 20 straight minutes without looking away every so often. So look up whenever you feel your eyes start to cross, and take a longer break if you feel a headache coming on.

When you take study breaks, focus on the outdoors. Hunt for clovers, splash in a puddle, admire a brightly colored leaf, watch some birds, or pick out cloud shapes. Avoid checking your phone, reading a book, or doing anything else that takes your attention away from what’s around you. You’re outside, so you might as well enjoy it.

It’s time to leave your desk behind and break out the picnic blanket. If you’re wondering where to set up camp, here’s a short list of cozy outdoor study spots on or near Hillsdale’s campus.

In Slayton Arboretum. (Worthwhile investment: A hammock you can easily sling between two trees or a waterproof picnic blanket.)
At a picnic table or bench on main campus
On the steps of Central Hall
On the football field bleachers
On the chapel steps
On the porch at the Rough Draft coffee shop
Beside Baw Beese Lake
On the Old Snack Bar porch
In the amphitheater

One final tip: Take advantage of every fair-weather study day to head outdoors, or at least open the window beside your desk. Once winter kicks off, you’ll be wishing you could dust the snow off the picnic tables and shiver your way through Philosophy 101. I should be used to it by now—I moved to Michigan from Denver—but every year, I regret not spending more time outside back in the good old days when the weather was nice. If you’re tempted to bury yourself in the basement of the library while it’s 75 degrees, don’t do it. Don’t give in. If you absolutely must work in complete silence or low light for an assignment, wait until it gets dark and you have no choice but to go inside.

Lauren Smyth, ’25, is an economics major and journalism minor. Outside of starting arguments in philosophy class, she enjoys curling up on a bench outdoors (sun, rain, or snow) to write novels or articles for her blog, www.laurensmythbooks.com.

Published in September 2023