Not long ago I used to be an indoor studier. I hated the bugs. I hated the distractions. I hated the wind and the sun and ugh... It was too much! So I condemned myself to a life of indoor studying. But one day I met an outdoor studier. I outwardly sneered but, secretly, I was curious and, dare I say, a little envious. His pictures of his outdoor learning sessions looked so picturesque that I found myself wishing for some of that magical realism to take away some of the humdrum that can come with long hours of studying.
So, I gave into peer pressure and decided to give mother nature another chance. My discoveries? She is not a bad study buddy after all!
Yes, the wind and bugs and sun and shadows and distractions are still there. However, I realized they were never really the problem: I was the problem.
Every time I went outside to study, it was like I had these negative shades on that kept me from seeing the sparkly sunny sides of outdoor studying, Once I accepted that the outside conditions were what they were and didn't immediately brand them as good or bad, I found I was enjoying myself. After all, I could get outside and enjoy the day without sacrificing productivity and, there is something enchanting about background nature sounds. And even when I am not surrounded by trees and streams, there is something equally entrancing about background sound of any kind. It's like one can momentarily take a step back from this busy world and just observe it or, as it's commonly called nowadays, be mindful.
So, to all the indoor studiers that shun the outdoors when it comes to homework and test prep, maybe give it another try with fresh eyes. You may be surprised how approaching a situation with a mindful mind can make all the difference.