When is the Best Time to Study?

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” – Richard Whately

Studies are part and parcel of a student’s life on which their entire year’s progress and exam grades depend. Besides everything else, we often find students wondering what the best time to study is- morning or evening. Does studying early in the morning aid in memorising the concepts better, or does burning the midnight oil will help you in better recollection?

Here in this article, we will find answers to all such questions. But before that, we must understand that the one-size-fits-all approach won’t work here. Everyone is different, with different skills, strengths and weaknesses. For example, for some students, early morning is the best time to study, while studying in the late hours of the night yields improved results for others. However, smart study techniques require you to identify your peak productivity hours and utilise them to achieve your academic goals. So without further ado, let’s determine the best time to study.

When is the best time to study – Morning or Evening?

Morning Study Session Benefits:

Morning hours are the preferable study time for most students. Research also shows that since your brain is well-rested and relaxed in the morning, it is ready to accommodate new concepts and information.

Here we present a few morning study benefits you should know about…

1. After a good night’s sleep, our minds are refreshed, assimilation of information and concepts is more rapid and efficient.
2. Studying in the calm and quiet bliss of the morning increases your alertness and focus.
3. You don’t have to compromise your sleep schedule for study hours as you can go to bed early at night and rise early in the morning.
4. If you encounter any doubts or queries, you’ll get the whole day to resolve them through your teachers or friends
5. School resources and libraries are more accessible for morning study students as they also tend to open up early

Evening/Night Study Session Benefits:

Another favourable study time for students is late in the evening, before going to bed. Research suggests that studying when you are tired will improve your concentration level. Furthermore, it has been found that when you study before sleep will give your brain more time to process and retain that information for quicker recall.

Evening/Night study benefits:

1. The most significant advantage is that you’ll get a peaceful and quiet environment for studying at night.
2. Daytime is usually boisterous and filled with many distractions, like household chores, TV, friends chatting, etc. Those distractions are absent during nighttime so that you can study with better focus.
3. Studies suggest that studying during nighttime will increase your creativity and critical thinking abilities to understand concepts better.
4. As we mentioned, when you study something at night, your brain will process that information while you sleep, resulting in better recollection.
5. The next significant advantage of studying at night is that you can extend your study hours as per your requirements.

Morning vs Evening study time:

Here are a few tips to accelerate your learning productivity:

1. Stick to a routine:

Regardless of your study time, you must maintain a routine to study at that particular time. It will help you set your biological clock for better productivity.

2. Take regular breaks:

For effective study sessions, you must take regular and refreshing breaks. It will rejuvenate your mind for enhanced focus and concentration.

3. Sleep enough:

One thing to remember here is that no matter what you opt for – morning study or evening study, you must get approximately 7-9 hours of sleep at night. Compromising your sleep may sabotage your study efforts.

4. Time management:

Do not lose track of time while studying or taking a break. Follow your study timetable strictly as best as you can. Avoid procrastination and cramming to utilise your time efficiently for maximum productivity.

Hope these tips will boost your memory and concentration for effective study sessions. To find the best time to study for you – morning or evening, you must consider your schedule, productive hours, and study arrangements. The time that allows you to focus more is your peak productivity time for study.