My College Roommate Won’t Stop Talking (Study Challenges)
Moving from high school to college can be an overwhelming and very daunting challenge. There are an endless amount of things to adjust and become accustomed to. One of the most challenging things to become comfortable with is living in close quarters with another person.
The study challenges of having a roommate who won’t stop talking can be difficult to deal with. You might try going to the library, listening to music, or having an upfront conversation with your roommate about their behavior, so that you can remedy your frustration with a college roommate.
The following paragraphs will outline and discuss several methods you can use if you are struggling to get along with your roommate. Alternative places to study, ways to communicate with your roommate, and some general tips for studying will also be discussed. If you’re looking for ways to study when your college roommate won’t stop talking, continue reading.
What To Do When Your Roommate Won’t Stop Talking
We’ve all been there. You’re stressed out, trying to focus, deep in thought, and someone around you keeps interrupting your concentration. If you’re trying to study and your roommate continues to break your center of attention, there are several things you can try to fix the situation and get your studying done.
Let’s take a look at a few of these things.
Find an Alternative Place To Study
One of the easiest ways to fix the problem of being disrupted by your roommate when trying to study is to find a different place to study. No matter the college campus, there are plenty of places for you to find a quiet and calm place with no distractions to learn and review whatever you need.
Unless however, the college insists on giving tours to prospective students and their families. Then you might not ever find a quiet place to study all the time.
The Library
The library is a no-brainer when seeking a silent, isolated place to get down and dirty for studying. It is quiet and usually full of other students trying to focus and learn as well. It also has an unlimited amount of resources right at your fingertips.
You can find research articles, books, and textbooks that might help you prepare for your test or exam.
Depending on your school, some libraries have designated areas for studying, where people are required to stay quiet and be respectful of other students trying to focus around them. If your roommate won’t stop talking, try seeking asylum in the library.
Outside
Another great place to study is outside in the fresh air. If weather permits, find a quiet location on your campus’ common grounds and set up shop. Learning in the sunlight will boost your vitamin D, which can improve your mood and help studying feel like less of a drag.
Classrooms
Empty classrooms and offices can also be an excellent choice when you’re looking for a place with no distractions for learning your material. They allow you to be entirely by yourself, with no noise or outside factors to pull your attention away from the task at hand.
A classroom might also allow you to spend one-on-one time with your professors.
Studying with a professor might be intimidating, but it can enable you to ask questions and clarify topics you do not understand. Chances are, if you spend time with your professors outside of class, they will be willing to give you insider tips or helpful hints for their exams.
Coffee Shops or Restaurants
Coffee shops can be a great place to study.
They are quiet, you can order food, and a light buzz of background noise can be stimulating enough to keep your attention on studying. Most campuses have coffee shops nearby or even on campus, so chances are you won’t have to go searching high and low for one to study at.
These places are also great places to meet up with friends or hold a study group.
Studying in a group can be a very effective way to learn and solidify necessary material in your brain. They can even help prevent procrastination. Studying around other people who are focused can force you to hold yourself accountable and keep focused.
Source: Florida National University
Put Your Headphones In and Tune It Out
Another great way to maintain your concentration when your roommate won’t stop talking is to put your headphones in and drown them out. Listening to a genre of music called “Lo-Fi” can even help you study and concentrate more effectively.
Your frontal lobe will pick out the slight differences in sound and use it to focus your attention on the material in front of you.
Putting your headphones in is also a subtle way to communicate and signal to your roommate that you are trying to focus.
Usually, people understand that it’s difficult to gain someone’s attention when they have headphones in, so chances are, if your roommate won’t stop talking, once they notice your attention is elsewhere, they will quiet down.
Have a Conversation
Just because someone is your roommate does not mean you have to talk to each other or even enjoy each other’s company 24/7. If your roommate is distracting you, there is nothing wrong with having an open and direct conversation with them about it.
Simply saying, “Hey, can we talk later? I have a test I am trying to study for.” will get the message across in a respectful way that states your boundaries without hurting your roommate’s feelings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your roommate is being distracting and won’t stop talking while you are trying to study, there are several things you can try to alleviate the situation and find an effective way to study.
Searching for an alternative place, such as a library or coffee shop on campus, is one of the best ways to combat distractions provided by your roommate. Listening to music or having a conversation with your roommate are two other methods to signal to your roommate that you need some time and space to focus.
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