With Philly’s many universities and colleges wading through in-person classes and careening through midterm seasons, studying is back. But just because you can reserve a spot deep in the stacks of the library or camp out at Starbucks doesn’t mean you should.
Science says switching up your location mid-workflow can increase productivity and turn a day of differential equations and term papers into an adventure. Dubbed the “coffee shop effect, ” the idea that certain locations can improve recall has been around since the 1970s. Apparently, our brains like to make associations between new information and novel surroundings.
Our solution? Turn studying into an excuse to explore the city beyond campus borders.
Here are some top picks for parks, coworking spaces, and off-the-beaten-path cafes that double as study spaces, and can also help you get to know some quintessential Philly locales.
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Quorum
3675 Market St. (University City)
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. – Thurs.
Part of the University City Science Center, Quorum is a free coworking space where students from Penn and Drexel can mingle with start-up founders — think WeWork with an innovation bent. Take a study break at the Elixir Coffee in the lounge or slip into a Q&A with tech investors to learn about venture capital (whatever that is).
