Where to Tackle Finals Season

How to create or find a productive study space

Anna Valaik / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista

As finals season approaches, it becomes increasingly important to find an apt study space to work from. For every student the perfect study spot looks different, but there are normally some key factors that stand out as must haves: peace and quiet, room to spread schoolwork out, and very little distractions. With Zoom university, where people are rarely leaving their main work space or desk, it’s important to change up some study habits and get out of the mundane routine students fall into during the semester. A new place to write, study, or do homework from always provides much needed inspiration and motivation, which is especially necessary during exam time. Whether it be writing a research paper or studying for an important history final, there are some awesome places in San Diego that will help get the job done. 

Moniker Coffee

A place frequented by many USD students, Moniker Coffee has a large building within Liberty Station, which is about a ten minute drive from campus. With varying tables, sofa arrangements, and outdoor seating, Moniker has enough options for any study habit. Whether a student wants to study with a roommate or write a paper alone, Moniker has the seating and vibe for both. Their beverages are always good, providing that much needed caffeine boost to get through a long day of finals. The Hawaiian latte and toast flight are a must try. However, they do play loud music and it’s normally quite busy, so if easily distracted, this is not necessarily the place to go. Parking is readily available, as the coffee shop is within Liberty Station.

Learning Commons

The USD Learning Commons, a new building on campus, is a great place to dedicate a few hours to school. Students can rent classrooms, work in single rooms, or set-up in the common space throughout the building. It’s quiet, and they have a full snack/beverage area. Also, it’s right on our beautiful campus, which makes it the perfect place to walk around during a study break. Parking is available around campus, but just make sure to get a temporary parking pass on the USD website.

Holsem Coffee

Located in North Park, Holsem Coffee is the perfect place to sit alone and work. There are multiple single tables, oftentimes filled with people on their laptops or reading. It’s a small enough space that it’s rarely too distracting to focus on a task. The lighting is wonderful; huge windows make the space feel so natural and homey, which is always lovely to experience when studying. Holsem Coffee provides ample options for food and drinks, which are great for a midday snack or caffeinated beverage. The mint matcha latte tastes out-of-this-world. There is metered street parking, as well. 

Lestat’s

Lestat’s has three locations around the University Heights and Hillcrest area and is another great option for studying. Parking is available directly in front, but it’s on a busy road in Hillcrest, so the availability may vary depending on the date and time. The walls are covered in local artwork, the rooms are spacious, filled with various sized tables perfect for any study group, and the overall environment is quite quirky. Their coffee has high ratings, and their large food menu will satisfy almost any food craving. Take note of their sandwiches, which receive high praise from those who frequent this coffee shop. It’s the perfect lowkey, comfortable workspace to get any task done. 

The Living Room

The Living Room, just like Lestat’s, is serving up great drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. There are locations in La Jolla and near SDSU. It’s designed, quite literally, to feel like a living room, so there’s truly nothing stuffy or pretentious about this coffeehouse. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, and the indoors seating upstairs is especially quiet and secluded. Their specialty drinks stand out on the menu, especially the mocha. However, they supposedly go heavy on the sweetener in their drinks, so keep that in mind. The Living Room provides a great space to sip on coffee, enjoy a pastry, and get some much-needed homework done. 

Young Hickory

Young Hickory, located in North Park, does not lack in space. With an open floor plan and open windows, the space feels bright and welcoming. There are seats with outlets everywhere, just in case a computer or phone is about to die. It’s never too loud or rowdy, but has the perfect amount of background noise to be productive and feel surrounded by hard-working individuals. Their coffee is loved by many, and their food stands out as one of the best when compared to other coffee shops; it’s truly a win-win. Try their paninis or breakfast sandwiches, which some reviews claim are “too-die-for.” However, beware of the parking because it can be difficult to find a spot.  

Your home/Own desk

For those not in San Diego, or even  for those who do their best work at home, there are many ways to switch up your regular workspace and feel inspired to finish exams. Here are some tips to creating an ideal workspace:

1. Look for natural light when designating a space.
2. Remove all distractions (phone, random knick-knacks, etc.).
3. Sit in a comfortable chair.
4. Have a favorite beverage, whether that be coffee, tea, or water, on hand.
5. Organize the space, making sure everything is tidy and in its place.
6. Don’t be afraid to hang inspiring pictures or light a candle to truly make it a comfortable setting. 

Studying for finals is never easy, especially when it seems all college is nowadays is sitting on the computer and working all day long. However, these places, and many more, should inspire anyone to push through these last few weeks and finish with a bang.