Around this time of the year, many students realize they’ve consistently been only two places for too long: their homes, and the U of C.
But sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need to get yourself out of a rut. Leaving your home offers your mind a mental reset and greatly reduces stress. It also isolates you from distractions such as your bed or chores.
This is why it is to your benefit to change your routine and look for study spots off-campus. Here’s some to look out for in the city you call home.
Public Library
The Calgary Public Library has 22 locations in the city, making for consistent and reliable study spots, regardless of which area you live in. Public Libraries have free Wi-Fi and a membership card is completely free. They also have printing, with members getting a $5 print credit each month, allowing you to print 33 sheets of black and white paper each month for free.
These libraries also have bookable small workrooms at a time in which the Taylor Family Digital Library’s rooms fill up quickly. The Calgary Central Library near City Hall is particularly stunning, with five floors of unique architecture and great study spots.
Fenyk Coffee and Social
Located on Northland Dr NW, a 10 minute drive from U of C, Fenyk Coffee and Social offers a cozy atmosphere to study in that is open until 10 p.m. Fenyk also has two other locations in Calgary, one in the Canada Olympic Common SW and the other on Rangeview Gate SE.
Their menu includes espresso, lattes and a variety of food, all of which is beneficial during a lengthy study session. The cafe additionally offers free wi-fi.
It is better for your late night study session to be in a relaxing environment with a coffee in hand.
Higher Ground Cafe
Higher Ground has two locations in Calgary, one on Kensington Rd NW, and the other on Capital Hill Crescent NW. The Kensington location is open Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
As for the Capital Hill location, it is open Sunday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Higher Ground offers a variety of drink options including coffee, iced beverages and all-day breakfast options.
This cafe makes for another great off-campus study spot, with a variety of food and drink options and a calming atmosphere.
Semantics Cafe
Semantics doubles as a cafe as well as a creative hub. While this makes for a less quiet space, this may be the atmosphere you are looking for. The space hosts everything from musical performance open mics and DJ learning nights, making for an excellent place to study and enjoy some local talent.
The cafe also has a large collection of books, vinyl records and VHS movies to flip through.
It also has a menu with coffee, lattes with food options as well.
If you’re feeling down and need to get some work done, Semantics offers some local music to enhance your study sessions.
Exploring the city
So if you are feeling overwhelmed this midterm season, try going outside and experiencing some of Calgary’s community. This will benefit your stress levels and give you a new perspective that can help your performance.
