When to study – Choosing the right time for study

The selection of correct time for doing the study is important for the quality of the study. Students should always select the best time (the part of day, e.g., morning, noon, evening or night) for their study. The suitability of time for study varies for different students depending on their routine activities as well as considerations related to mental capacity. Routine activities and lifestyle considerations include factors such as the time to attend class lectures, the time to go for paid work, sleeping habits, and other activities such as going to the gym, or going for a walk. The mental capacity considerations include the selection of time when the student feels mentally fresh and alert, and is thus able to concentrate on their study. Based on the these determinants of selection of time, some students find it helpful to do study in the morning while other students prefer late-night study.

Ideally, you should be able to study at any time of the day. However, some parts (times) of the day may work better than others for productive study. Therefore, students must think which time is more suitable for them to maximize their study outcomes. This article would you present a brief overview of various aspects of the selection of the best time for study and will help you figure out which part (time) of the day may work best for you.  

Most students prefer studying in the morning for certain reasons as follows. First, it feels very natural and mentally acceptable to start study in the morning because this is the time when everyone from different walks of life starts their work. This has a positive psychological effect on students because they take study as a regular activity for them, and this makes it easier for them to start their study at a fixed time every morning. Second, when a student gets up in the morning after having a good amount of sleep, his body is relaxed, and his brain has restored its capacity fully to learn; and to process and store the learned information. He has a very clear focus and can do his study with concentration and attention. Third, since the library is open in the daytime, he is able to bring some helpful books from the library or to meet his teachers to take help in their study if they face difficulty in understanding some topic. Fourth, they know when they will finish their study in the afternoon or in the evening, they will have enough time for spending with their family or friends and for playing a game or going to gym. This means morning study allows them to have a balanced approach to all the activities of life.

A good number of students also prefer late-night study for reasons as follows. First, the night is very calm and thus, conducive for concentrating on the study. There are no noises which may divert your attention from your study. Second, generally at late night everything is closed, and everyone is sleeping so the student feels that he cannot engage in any task other than his study. By contrast, in the daytime, a student has the option to visit friends or go to the nearby store if he wants, and in this way, he can be easily distracted from his study. Third, some students think that their brains naturally work better study in the night than in the day. They believe that even if they try to do study in the day, their study outcome is generally lower than when they do study at night. Maybe they have been doing their study at night for years; and this has now become their stable habit. Maybe they have developed such sleeping habit which allows them to do their study only in the night.

The above discussion reflects on different considerations of time selection for study as seen as important by two groups of students. The considerations seen as important by both groups can have their pros and cons. For instance, those who have to attend their lecture in the morning cannot do their self-study in the morning. Similarly, those who have the habit of late-night study may feel quite exhausted and sleepy while they attend their lecture in the morning. However, even if students have not to attend lectures in the morning there still can be some cons of both approaches to time selection for the study. At the same time, one of these approaches may even work best for many students who have not to attend lectures and if it is supported by their other circumstances.

The students, who attend lectures, may better select some part (times) of the day between when they come from college or university and when they go to sleep at night. For instance, a student comes home back from college at 2 PM (afternoon) and goes to sleep at 12 AM (night). He may better select some time within the duration between 2 PM and 12 AM. For instance, he may find it helpful to do his study in the evening. This way he would select the best time for his studies which can easily be integrated into his routine.

Here are some important points to choose study time and to make best of the available time.

1. For choosing the right time for study, consider the other academic and non-activities in your routine.
2. Choose a time for study which can easily be integrated into your routine without affecting other important activities of life.
3. Some subjects need more time and attention than others. For such subjects, select the part of the day when you can easily concentrate on them.
4. For easy subjects, you can select those hours of the day where you may feel a bit tired, and it is convenient for you to study only easy subjects.
5. Make a plan about what to study, when to study, and how much to study. This plan can be for a month, week or day. This will serve as a roadmap for you and would keep you on the right track towards your academic goals.
6. Prioritize your activities according to their importance and give them time accordingly.
7. Whether you like late-night study or morning study, but always have a good amount of sleep every day.