Studying Online;Succeeding through Distance Learning at University

Online well-being 221 
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ONE FINAL IDEA – HOUSEPLANTS 
Get some indoor plants for your study space. Computers do not 
help the air quality of your home. Indeed, having a computer in 
your room is roughly equivalent to having three other people in 
the same space. Research on rooms with computers shows that 
the reduction in the air quality can reduce typing performance 
(Bakó-Biró et al., 2002). Studying online, particularly with a com-
puter in your bedroom, means that the air quality of the room can 
decrease. To help overcome this problem, it is a good idea to get 
some indoor plants. Research has shown that when students were 
asked to complete cognitive tasks in an ofce where there were 
plants, their performance was improved compared with those 
asked to do the task with no plants present (Raanaas et al., 2011). 
QUICK TIP:Tall green foliage plants are thought to help your 
concentration, so getting a couple of these in your study room 
could help improve your work. 
PRACTICAL TIPS 
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Establish a routine for breaks.
Take regular breaks where you get 
up from your desk. These will help you maintain concentration, 
improve memory, and help your eyesight. Stand up, move about, 
and stretch your muscles. If you use the Pomodoro Technique®, 
you can do this after each 25-minute block of work. 
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Use a desk.
It might sound straightforward, but many students 
appear to try to study with a laptop perched on their knee or 
even while lying down in bed. Sitting at a desk improves your 
posture and reduces the chances of muscular problems. Plus, it 
helps you focus and concentrate. 
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Take care of your eyes.
You will be doing a lot of work at your 
computer, and it can help increase dryness in your eyes. To help 
deal with this, use lubricating eye drops regularly so that you can 
reduce the chances of CVS. 
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