The irony of lectures at uni is that we’re given the option to watch them from home, but often hear of lecturers’ disappointment at the scarcity of students attending in person.

While the temptation to stay home in bed while tuning in to online lectures is undeniable, there might actually be some benefits to turning up to experience them in the flesh.

Here’s five reasons why going to lectures beats watching them online.

#1 It Prevents Procrastination

While you may think that staying home and watching a lecture in bed can save you travel time and effort, in most cases this is not the reality.

Watching a lecture at home usually means clicking the pause button to check your phone, grab a biscuit, do some online shopping or start spring-cleaning your room – basically anything to avoid continuing to pay attention.

On average, watching a lecture at home takes me around three hours instead of one when I count the breaks I take. This means that by the time I’ve completed this feat I could’ve already been on the train home from uni.

Next time you think you’re saving travel time and effort by staying home, consider the efficiency of going and getting it done!

#2 You Can Socialise

Uni can be lonely at times; a lot of learning is done in your own time and feeling isolated can put a real damper on things.

Walking into a lecture and catching up with friends can end up being the highlight of your day, even if you can only talk for a few minutes or message each other a string of comedic commentary about your lecturer as the hour goes by.

#3 Excuse To Treat Yourself

I’m a firm believer in rewarding yourself for being committed to your study, so I never fail to buy a cup of coffee or a snack on my way into the lecture. And I for one can vouch that this beats Nescafe instant coffee every time.

Not only this, but for some reason unis often diminish chances of students actually showing up to lectures by making them happen at the joyous time of 8.30am. Coffee in this case isn’t a treat, it’s a necessity.

#4 You Learn More

Sitting in a lecture theatre means you actually focus and absorb the information that is being presented to you.

Often, hearing and seeing an expert talk about a topic they’re passionate about, helps me remember more. Personally, I not only understand the material much faster, but I also remember the details of my lecture with a clarity that doesn’t compare to watching a lecture at home while an episode of The Bachelor is simultaneously playing from my laptop.

#5 Defying The Millennial Stereotype

While millennials are often classed as the tech generation, I’ve been subject to professors criticising our use of digital technology on more than one occasion.

While it’s easy to target students’ lack of engagement and interest in academic study on the distractions presented to us by social media and other technologies, this is not always the case and we are perfectly capable of paying attention and receiving information face-to-face.

Attending lectures in person does wonders for the millennial image and we should work together to defy the stereotype that often paints us as disinterested and lazy.

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, going to lectures could be the answer you’ve been looking for. You’ll feel accomplished, stay on top of the uni workload, and beat the procrastination bug.

Valentina Griesheimer lives in Melbourne and is originally from Cologne, Germany. She currently studies a Bachelor of Professional Communications and majors in Journalism.

(Lead image: Ronny Chieng: International Student/Facebook)