AnnaMarie Houlis
When is the best time to study? The answer might feel different for everyone.
Some live by the adage, the early bird gets the worm. They rise and shine early to cook a power breakfast and crank on work before others even open their eyes.
For others, a slow morning feels more rejuvenating. Maybe diving straight into studying doesn’t feel natural—at least not until after breakfast and a workout to wake up the brain and body.
And, for others, nightfall brings about the best in them. While it may be evening hours for some, it could even be late into the night for others. Creativity could strike when the clock strikes midnight, and sleep is impossible when their brain is going a million miles a minute. So they get up to leverage that momentum.
Whether you’re a morning person, a night owl or somewhere in between, science says there are pros and cons to every type of studying.
What Does the Science Say?
“Good timing” is also known as chronobiology, the study of biological rhythms. It assesses the effects of time on natural events and internal biological clocks.
According to chronobiology, peak performance is hardwired into our DNA. Our biological clock helps us decide when our ideal time for studying is.
That said, science suggests that learning and studying are, generally, most effective between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The least effective learning time is said to be between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Studying in the Morning
Here’s what you need to know about studying in the morning.
Benefits of Studying in the Morning
Many people believe that the morning is the best time to study. For many, their brains are sharpest in the morning following a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast.
The natural light in the morning is also good for your eyes and can keep you alert. Morning time is optimal for reading a textbook, learning a new theory or reviewing course notes. This is because mornings typically give you better recollection abilities.
Cons of Studying in the Morning
If you struggle to get up in the morning or take a while to adjust to a new day, studying in the morning may not be optimal for you.
Likewise, as the morning progresses, routine actions like showering and breakfast may disrupt your flow or become hurdles.
Tips for Studying in the Morning
If you prefer to study in the morning, eat a healthy breakfast to fuel your learning. Brain foods like avocados, blueberries and whole grains can help improve your concentration levels.
Studying in the Afternoon
For some people, the middle of the day is the most appealing time to study.
Benefits of Studying in the Afternoon
In the afternoon, the brain is typically best at integrating new information with the material it already knows.
During the afternoon, people can usually create better connections and make the information they’ve learned more meaningful.
Studying in the morning and afternoon can also benefit some people because they can call their peers, family members or teachers to discuss their learning. After all, this is when people are typically the most active and schools and libraries are open.
Cons of Studying in the Afternoon
Some people experience the “mid-afternoon slump.” This refers to that tired or distracting feeling in the middle of the day. However, getting enough sleep can often improve your mental and physical performance issues throughout the day.
Tips for Studying in the Afternoon
The afternoon can be a busy time to study, especially if you’re working outside your home. Be sure to find a comfortable space to learn inside or outside with plenty of natural light.
Eliminate any possible distractions. For example, listening to your music of choice may help you focus and block out any distracting noises, such as traffic, people talking or other music.
Studying at Night
Ever hear of the term “night owl?” Many people who prefer studying at night identify this way.
Benefits of Studying at Night
Some people feel more energized and awake at night. Studying at this time can help some people improve their concentration and creativity as there are fewer distractions.
Sleeping straight after studying can also help improve your ability to recall topics and consolidate information.
Cons of Studying at Night
Some people struggle to get enough sleep if they go to bed late. If you prefer studying at night, make sure that you are still getting an average of eight to nine hours of sleep so you can perform at your best when you work the next day.
Likewise, if you don’t work well at home, you might struggle to find anywhere open or quiet enough to study during the night.
Tips for Studying at Night
If you prefer learning at night, try to limit any possible distractions. Switch your phone to silent, and keep the TV off.
Avoid caffeine, even if you’re tired, as it can take up to four hours to cycle through the body. While caffeine might give you a quick energy spike, it may stop you from having a good night’s rest.
Create a routine that gives you enough time for a good night’s rest.
Bonus: Study Right When You Are About to Forget (Spaced Repetition)
If you’re still wondering when is the best time to study for you, you could consider spaced repetition.
Spaced repetition is a learning method that involves reviewing material repeatedly over different intervals, such as days or weeks apart. It’s renowned as an effective way to study and retain information long-term.
Benefits of Spaced Repetition
Using spaced repetition to learn new information increases your ability to access the material you’re studying. It works because spacing out your study sessions over different time intervals gives your brain enough time to “nearly forget” the information before you review it again at the next break.
Recalling information just before it fades from your memory develops stronger neural networks.
Tips for Spaced Repetition
Here are some tips to get the most out of studying with spaced repetition:
- Practice with balance. The goal is to find the best balance between your recalling success and error rates. If your error rate noticeably goes down and you easily remember all information, you’re no longer actively using your brain to recall information. In this case, you can add more time between intervals.
- Be patient. Spaced repetition isn’t magic and requires effort and time to notice results. Don’t give up; stick with your schedule even if you have difficulty remembering information. The challenging moments can be valuable as they’ll help you strengthen your knowledge over time.
- Set up a comfortable study environment. Ensure you have everything you need to practice spaced repetition in one place. Keep a well-organized, distraction-free and comfortable space to work at your best.
- Keep at it. In order for spaced repetition to work, you need to keep it going. This means that you can’t just study something once and then set it and probably forget it. You have to pick it back up in those regular intervals.
- Study when it feels natural. Again, there are times of day when you may feel the most energized. Capitalize on that energy and sit down to study when you have it. Since spaced repetition requires you to study repeatedly over a period of time, you can try out different times of day to see what works best for you.
Experiment with and without flashcards. Using flashcards for spaced repetition is helpful for language learning and definitions. But they are not as suitable for learning more complex subjects. Try different study tools and use what works best for you.