How To: Study While You Travel

While being a student traveler gives me certain opportunities, the main issue with being in school while you travel is all of the work you have to do haha Go figure. However, if one can discover a motivated focus and define a semi structured process in which to carry this out, then the fruits of your labor can really enrich this experience of learning.

One thing I have found in studying psychology, is the incredible interconnected nature of all things. In this, there are a lot of intersections to be found between the things you are studying and the places you are traveling. When this happens, the nature of your school work inherently becomes more passionate, more authentic, and more inspired because you are channeling the voices of all of the people you have met and the experiences you have encountered as they intermingle with the information you are learning. It is a beautiful experience because it feels as though things are coming full circle as the conceptual nature of study becomes enlivened through real life experience.

For myself, this has created a more embodied understanding of the world, and of the information you are gaining in class. When you leave, you feel as though a true transformation has take place during this semester that has left you in a different place from where you began.

Throughout this experience, there were definitely times I felt annoyed I had to put aside fun and focus. However, each time I did I reminded myself at least I’m sitting on my balcony in Greece or at a cafe in Paris doing this work instead of stuck in a classroom or in my office at home. I really couldn’t complain and it actually seemed to make it easier to put aside some time to focus.. it even made me feel cool haha out in the world, expanding myself and my mind through reading and writing and experience. I often felt a new sense of pride for what I was accomplishing.

Practices: 

In order to take this on and be successful there are definitely some sturdy practices you want to put in place and commit yourself to. This provides the support you need to accomplish things but not spend your time worrying about how or when. I always like to plan things out in pretty adequate detail but not beat myself up if the flow of life changes some things. Always plan in wiggle room and for things taking longer then you think and, most importantly, always have a plan B!

-Study in the gaps of the day

Inherent to traveling are certain periods of time that lend themselves well to studying and this is the time to take advantage of in order to really maximize your work time without needing to schedule chunks of time out of your trip that you could be doing much better things, like swimming in the Mediterranean or hiking in a cloud forest.

The “gaps” I’m talking about are time spent waiting for and while traveling in a plane, train, or automobile. Also, times such as at the end of each night before bed or while enjoying your coffee in the morning. When I travel alone I also use the times I am eating or sitting at a cafe. It’s funny, eating alone is the only time I would ever feel akward or alone and making it into a study time was nice because it gave me something to do in those moments and I would do so leisurely, with no pressure to get it done or stress about it and taking pent of time to enjoy my food.

Basically, carrying your Kindle and note book with you everywhere enables you to find a great deal of time to study and this directly impacts your experience of and connection to the world around you.

-Download Assignments 

This step is important, especially when traveling abroad, because a lot of wasted time can be spent searching for and trying to access the material you will need to accomplish tasks for school. As part of the itinerary, I make sure that for each section and each assignment I have the correct articles and instructions to complete the work.

I even like to get word documents started with the instructions pasted at the top so it saves me one extra step in beginning the assignment, and I definitely need all the help I can get with that haha. So, then, I save these in the appropriate folder on my computer for easy access and then also use this space to take notes because it makes it easker keeping everything in one space. -making an itinerary  just dedicated to your school schedule (highlight most important dates start dates and due dates on all calendars)

When traveling, there is so much one is taking in and experiencing, all sense of normal reality can seem to be gone. Sometimes its hard to even know what day it is! When this happens, it becomes incredibly hard to stay on track with assignments and due dates. As a result, it is important to set up the structures that will provide that support for you before you ever leave home. Then, it takes a great deal of the anxiety out of the process while you are traveling because you don’t have to keep the space in your head to be on top of it or remember things, all you have to do is refer to this structure – through a digital calendar and folders on your computer with articles etc –

-Organize your computer

Again, the more organized and prepared you are before you leave, the easier things will be for your when out and about. Organizing this information on your computer is one of the most important steps in this process.

For me, this looks like making individual folders on my desktop like:

1 top folder for the semester

Then, within this, an individual folder for each class I am taking

Next, within each class folder, a copy of the syllabus, a folder for resources such as articles, and a folder for each assignment I will be working on (within each of these is the pre-started word document with the instructions for how to complete that assignment).

I also have a folder for the trip:

In this I have a copy of the itinerary I have made as well as a folder for each destination.

In each of these, there is a folder for Transportation, Accommodation, and any other pertinent information I may have and want to access while traveling.

Gear: 

While a great deal of the success you will have in this comes from your own willpower, determination, and skill, you will definitely be better off using the following tools to support you in the process.

-Audio books

These are handy to listen to while in transit, on the bus or walking around town or even while sitting on the street corner enjoying a beer or some food. I usually listened to music instead haha but in theory I think this is a good idea. Audible gives you a free 30 days and a free audiobook so you can try it out and see how you feel. The only downside I have with audiobooks is that I cannot capture the profound sentences and passages I want to preserve. To remedy this, I usually will get both the audio and E book so I can follow along and highlight – or mark the time at which I am hearing something I would like to save so I can return their later to capture it.

-Kindle

This is handy because of its ability to store so much information into such a small space. With this device, you can store and access all of your school texts as well as transfer PDF articles. The kindle Paper White doesn’t have the tablet features like apps so its battery will last for quite a long time, it also has a backlit screen which is nice for reading in the sun with little glare and at night

-Laptop, lightweight and durable

This is important because through this device you can do all of your paper writing and accessing the online classroom. This can be a frustrating task on a small screen. Also, the lighter the better as this is usually one of the heaviest elements in your bag and can feel increasingly heavy as you travel. I think the Mac book pro or the Windows Surface Pro are the best options. The Mac syncs with the Iphone (if thats your phone of choice this will benefit you more) but also has an amazing battery life and can be very lightweight and manageable. In terms of weight I think the Surface Pro might be the best bet. It still has things like USB ports, which tablets often do not have, yet is still thin and portable.

-Notebook and pen

Sometimes you wont have internet or will go out wondering and wont want to risk taking your computer (of carry that extra weight) but then the mood will strike, something will inspire you, or you’ll meet someone who introduces you to new things you don’t want to loose. I believe it is always important to have a plan B as well as have something that is not reliant on technology. I like to use this as a place to hold the essence of your trip, including random thoughts and experiences, quotes, suggestions, and doodles :p

It is also important to bring a quality notebook. Personally I have found the Ogami Professional 4X6 books to be amazing! They are made with paper from limestone and resin so they are waterproof, tear proof, super soft and smooth to write on, and more sustainable!

Also, do not bring a gel pen, they explode at high altitudes and leak. Make sure to bring one that is quality but also the right style for the demands of traveling. It is usually a good idea to have a couple on you in various places, just in case you lose track of one.

-Digital Calendar

This is vital because this tool can act like an extension of your own brain and remind you of the important things you have to do. Before leaving I not only write out a specific school schedule I will follow that matches the itinerary I have put together but I also put the most important dates (including when to start writing papers or reading books and when big assignments are due) in this calendar with multiple reminders. It is also in this space I can copy and paste assignment instructions or page numbers for reading so when I get the reminder I am in the place I also need the information regarding how to do it.

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