This is a question on many students’ minds, regardless of age: what is the best time to study? The reality is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Study performance varies depending on circadian rhythm , lifestyle, study material type, and even personal taste.
Knowing how your body and brain work during the day can unlock better concentration, improved retention, and optimized results.
What is circadian rhythm and how does it influence the brain?
The circadian rhythm is the biological clock that governs our physiological activities within a 24-hour cycle. It dictates sleep, energy, hormone secretion, and cognitive functions during the day.
This natural rhythm is different for everyone. Some find they are more energetic early in the day, while others work better at night. Chronobiology used in studies enables us to learn about these differences and select the best productive times to study.
Benefits of morning study
For those capable of waking up early and being full of energy, morning can be fertile soil for knowledge. Have a look at some of the advantages:
Rested brain and high retention
If you wake up early, your brain is more rested and there are fewer distractions accumulated overnight, which benefits long-term memory and the learning of new material.
Focus, working memory and discipline
Research indicates that working memory and the ability to sustain attention are most efficient in the morning hours. Additionally, learning in the morning establishes a disciplined schedule, with fewer surprises.
Best suited for new or harder material
Morning times are perfect for learning topics which need more vigorous thinking, like mathematics or physics, and topics you have not mastered yet.
Mental organization and fewer emotional burdens
Beginning the day by learning avoids a piling of tasks and anxiety. This leads to better mental organization and a feeling of accomplishment.
Advantages of studying in the afternoon
The afternoon is the time when most people get a second wind, particularly following a successful morning or good post-lunch rest. It can be the best moment to solidify what you’ve learned or get practical experience with hands-on exercises. Reap the rewards:
Peak logical performance and productivity
For most individuals, the early part of the afternoon is a fresh peak of energy, perfect for tasks calling for logical thinking and constant productivity.
Calculation, review and practice exercises
Afternoon is excellent for revision of material , doing lists of exercises, creating mind maps and rehearsing using simulations.
Excellent window for practice tests
By repeating the time when tests such as the exams are held, studying in the afternoon condition the body to the rhythm of the exam .
Reproduction of typical timetables of public exams and entrance exams
Learning during this time also conditions the brain to do well in afternoon entrance exams.
When nighttime studying can be beneficial
Despite being called the less productive hour, nighttime could be an ideal time for some kinds of studying. With fewer distractions and obligations, it’s easy to make this time a place for recall and thinking creatively—if you’re careful not to overdo it.
Ideal for light study or creative work
The evening can be useful if you employ it to review what you covered in the day, jot down questions or create essays and other creative work.
Thinking, writing, leisure reading or note-taking
It is quiet time, suitable for reflection and light uptake of information, as well as sorting out study material.
Be cautious of mental exhaustion
The biggest challenge of nighttime studying is built-up fatigue. If it happens to be your best time, focus on lighter tasks and have a good sleep schedule.
How to determine your best time
Having the best time to study isn’t about taking in pre-fabricated formulas, but about respecting fully paying attention to yourself. Everyone has a personal biological rhythm—and it may be more telling than any standardized advice. To find yours, you must perform a sort of personal experiment.
For several days (minimum a week), study at various times of the day and honestly record your observations . Pay attention to:
- At what time of the day do you feel most energetic, concentrating and open to learning?
- Which timetables appear to crawl along, with additional distractions or fatigue of the mind?
- At what shift do you find it simpler to grasp new materials or answer tough questions?
- How is your concentration sustained over a period of time?
- Do you get more creative, analytical, or reflective at any specific hour of the day?
With this “self-awareness diary,” you’ll start to notice patterns that uncover your mental high-performance cycle . From there, structure your routine to concentrate on the most challenging topics during peak performance hours and save lighter or more routine work for your off-hours.
Remember: more crucial than sticking to other folks’ schedules is adhering to your own rhythm. That’s the true key to studying better!
And how many hours a day should I study?
After knowing the best study time for your body rhythm, another frequently asked question is: how many daily hours are actually needed to succeed?
To begin with, let us be transparent: there is no “magic workload” for all people. Actually, what truly matters is the quality of your study , the regularity of your routine , and well-spent use of your free time.
Studying for 2 hours with total focus is worth much more than spending 6 hours with your cell phone nearby and your mind scattered.
Still, it is possible to draw up guideline averages according to your objectives:
- Two to four hours a day is the ideal for high school students, who are beginning to prepare for college admission exams, or who are trying to balance study with other activities. Here, the key is to form a habit and move forward consistently.
- Four to six hours a day is advised for those applying to more competitive courses like Medicine , Law, and Engineering , and who are already at an advanced level. It’s a serious workload with the need for self-discipline and being well-organized.
- Six to eight hours a day or more is what is advised for those who are in the last leg or who are 100% committed to studying (e.g., after high school or during a gap year). In these cases, it’s critical to have a good study plan to prevent falling into the trap of pointless fatigue.
Whatever your circumstances, don’t underestimate the power of breaks . Pomodoro-style techniques keep your mind engaged and stop burnout. Working with longer breaks every two hours also causes you to soak up the material and keeps you energized during the day.