Image by hoahoa111 from Pixabay
By Mariem Abada
Cafes around Holloway are gaining popularity nowadays amongst students seeking a place to study. As libraries can be so busy and occasionally too silent to suit them all, many are opting for a less formal and more comfortable option: the cafe.
“Cafes have become a way of life. I can not concentrate at home, I feel more motivated when I am in a cafe, it helps me to get things done,” said second-year student, Maya Hafez.
Hafez says that background noise, in fact, helps her focus more. “It is not as quiet as the library, of which I am fond. It is not intense.”
This change in study habits is becoming more evident throughout Holloway. Students are now seen working on their laptops at cafes and tend to spend a lot of time there.
Third-year student Nada Alboudi claims her cafes are more than merely a place to work. You have friends to meet, a conversation to have, and you can remain productive, she explains. It is not as lonely as studying in the library by yourself.
Looking for a safe space
The combination of comfort and productivity is what attracts many students to safe spaces. A changed environment can help in making the study less of a burden and more of a routine.
The downside, however, is that it costs a lot, Hafez confides. “You enter in with a thought that you will leave with a single cup of coffee, but when you are there to spend a few hours, you tend to spend more than you imagined.”
Alboudi agrees, saying that she cannot afford visit a cafe on a daily basis. “I make it kind of a thing, I say. I could not do it every time as it would be too costly.”
Image by minhthai0105 from Pixabay
Perks worth the price
Even though it is expensive, certain students believe the perks are worth the price. The orderliness of a cafe can help you focus in a manner that you do not at home.
“At home, there are too many distractions,” Alboudi says. “When I go to the cafe, and I feel I have the effort of working in it, and this I commit to it.”
Some find cafes to be a way to establish a better distinction between work and personal life. Students can use cafes as studying areas instead of focusing their energy on relaxing at home.
“When I get out of the cafe, I think I have done something,” Halfez says. “It helps me relax later without regrets,” she adds.
At the same time, not all students are convinced that they are those who still choose the old methods of studying, such as in libraries, where one is not faced with distraction, nor are they pressured to spend money.
Nevertheless, cafes are becoming even more popular. This relaxed atmosphere, social environment, and flexible environment are what make them a good choice for many students.
Cafes are becoming popular more than mere coffee shops as study habits change accordingly. They have become an indispensable aspect of academic life to many students, providing them with a place that is both productive and part of their daily routine.
Image by Mariem Abada
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