On average, college students spend around 15 hours a week in class, plus another 10 hours studying for those classes. Don’t forget sports, clubs, group projects, and talking to professors and mentors outside of class. In other words, college is a full-time job. It can be difficult to fit in everything you want to do, like spending time with friends or exploring your favorite hobbies. Luckily, there are plenty of smart devices out there to help you manage your time. From noise-canceling headphones to portable speakers, smart gadgets can optimize your college experience and make it easier to stay focused.
Noise-cancelling headphones
No matter where you choose to study for class, it can be difficult to concentrate if there’s any noise or activity around you. Sometimes even the library is too loud to focus on your work. With a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you can block out the outside world and crank out that ten-page paper before you know it. The Treblab Z2 wireless headphones give you 35 hours of use on a single 3-hour charge. You can take your headphones from study time straight to the gym, thanks to Treblab’s water resistant and sweat proof technology.
Smart notebook
A smart notebook allows you to write your notes by hand and then upload them to the cloud or a digital device. Many smart notebooks include a smart pen that detects your writing, while with others, you snap a picture of each page to upload your notes. From there, you can organize your notes in whatever way works best for you. After uploading your notes, you can wipe the page with a damp cloth or microwave the page to erase your notes. Then, you can reuse the page over and over again. The HOMESTEC Reusable Smart Notebook claims it can be used over 600 times with just a damp cloth to erase marks on the page.
Smart speaker
After a long week of papers and presentations, you deserve a break. With a smart speaker, you can enjoy a long shower with relaxing music. Or crank up the sound and have a dance party with your roommates to get out some energy. The Treblab FX100 is a waterproof travel speaker with 35 hours of battery life and a built-in phone charger. Crafted from ultra-durable metal and thermoplastic rubber, it’s also compatible with any Bluetooth device. Don’t forget to read up on how you can prevent smart speaker hacking.
Voice-activated speakers, like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest, are another great way to make college life easier. You can use these devices to listen to music, answer questions, and set timers. You can also use Do Not Disturb mode on your smart devices to hold yourself accountable to your studies. With notifications constantly popping up, it’s easy to become a victim of digital fatigue. If you get distracted by every message, turn your notifications off and check each app on your own terms.
Smart laptop stand
As a college student, you’ve likely learned how to be flexible and study from anywhere. With a laptop stand like the WorkEZ, you can easily adjust the height of your laptop. Dorm desks can be small, and a laptop stand gives you optimal angles, allowing you to work from bed, the couch, or even the floor. The stand slips over your legs, raising the laptop above you and keeping both you and your laptop cool. The removable mouse pad connects to the panel and is easy to install or remove.
If you spend a significant amount of time at your computer, make sure your set-up is ergonomic. Your monitor should be at or just below eye level and at arm’s-length away, with your wrists straight and hands at or below elbow level. If you’re sitting, your knees should be level with your hips. You might think about upgrading to an ergonomically-designed option that will give your wrists some relief.
Smart pet feeders
For those who live at home instead of the dorms, you may able enjoy the company of your fur babies after a long day. A smart pet feeder can schedule meals for you, saving you time and keeping your pet’s routine consistent while you’re in classes and keeping up with your busy schedule. The Voluas automatic pet feeder sets one to four meals with a voice recorded meal call. You can record up to 10 seconds of audio to play during mealtime, which helps with pet bonding even when you’re away from home. Learn more about how smart pet technology can help us take better care of our furry friends.
More resources for college students
If you’re a college student looking for more technology resources, check out the rest of the CenturyLink college series. Check out our guide to getting your first phone plan. Learn about the best apps for college students for more study tools and wellness resources. We also have articles teaching you how to leave Family Sharing and how to set up a router in your dorm so you always have reliable WiFi.
What would you like to see next? Drop a comment below with your ideas.
