5 Essential Items That Always Sit on My Desk

As a fourth-year student that has spent half of her time at the university learning  in an online setting, I definitely feel as though I’ve mastered some tips and tricks for academic success. My desk is my sacred space when it comes to studying. It’s the only place where I can focus at home, and it’s because of the essential items that I have compiled to be able to stay on track and do well.

Before I bought a laptop stand, I noticed that I was always hunched over when getting my work done. By elevating the screen, I can look at my computer straight on and improve my posture. There are plenty of options to choose from whether you want it to be colourful or adjustable. I got mine on Amazon and used my student discount to get it with a free Prime membership (external link, opens in new window) !

There are so many planners out there that it’s easy to find one that suits your needs. You can get a physical one if you’re the type that needs to write things down, or use a free digital one if you prefer to keep everything online. I personally splurged on a physical one that has erasable & reusable pages and different types of sheets for task planning, monthly planning and note taking. You can even scan its pages and upload them to your Google Drive. In university it is essential to stay organized so find one that you feel is best for you.

A lot of classes are back in person, but I still have a couple that have stayed online. So, to get me through three-hour lectures at my desk or even a longer study session at the Student Learning Centre (SLC), I like to keep a drink on hand. It’s so important to stay hydrated and fed throughout the day, and it can be easy to forget these essential tasks when sitting in front of a computer. I always have a bottle of water on my desk, and I make sure to refill when I take breaks. If I’m sitting down to study in the morning, I also usually treat myself to a fresh coffee or tea to wake me up.

I was recently gifted a pair of noise cancelling headphones and they have completely revolutionized my study habits. I do not live alone, so when I study at home there are plenty of noisy distractions that occur throughout the day. With the noise cancelling feature, I’m not distracted by every little sound in the background. I’m actually able to focus on my work for lengthy periods of time!

Last but not least, I like to keep some photos of family and friends on my desk. They give me little bursts of serotonin when I look away from the screen and remind me that university is not the only thing going on in my life. The photos remind me to think of happy memories and inspire me to make new ones too! They’re a good tool to create a distraction without leaving my desk and losing complete focus of my studies.