Summary
- Biological clockwork
- Different times for different people
- Morning is the best time to study
- Afternoon is the best time to study
- Night is the best time to study
When you are a student, your days are packed with activity. Assignments, project work, lectures, homework and socializing among other bustling pursuits.
In the midst of all this, you have to make time to study for your upcoming examinations. The question now arises, which is the best time to study-day or night?
Although there is no specific answer to the right time to study, we can make a comparative study of the different time slots and see what works best for you.
Every individual will have his or her own best time to study. The body has its own built in biological clock that works according to your body type.
In this regard, science has gone a long way in deducing the different body types and the best time for each body type to study.
Every body is fitted with a biological clock or circadian clock. This biological clock controls the pattern of behavior in a person.
It is this biological clock that determines the times of sleep and vigilance and makes us hungry when it is time to eat.
The biological clock is a group of 20000 neurons and is located in the brain. This collection of neurons is also called suprachiasmatic nucleus.
It is this suprachiasmatic nucleus that is responsible for circadian rhythms in the body. It regulates sleep, wak time, alertness, hunger.
For instance, it maintains wakefulness by sending out alerting pulses throughout the day (to counteract the other element of our biological sleep regulation process, the homeostatic sleep pressure that gradually builds up during the day), and then weakens the alerting pulses and increases melatonin production in the late evening in order to open up the so-called “sleep gate”.
Chronobiology is the science that deals with timing processes and biological cycles. It is that branch of biology that studies variations in time and its effect on living organisms.
Many scientists have tried to study the pattern of the human body with change in time and motion of the Earth. Through chronobiology, it is also possible to determine the best time to study for students.
However, chronobiological tests are more individual than general and the right time to study will differ from person to person depending on your body type.
Dr Micheal Breus in his book The Power of When, has classified people into 4 types depending on the chronotype of a person.
Each of these four categories of people show different characteristics. Based on these types, you can determine for yourself which is the best time to study- morning or night?
The author also mentions that there is a right time to do everything including drinking your coffee or exercising.
The book presents methods in which you can get in sync with your body’s rhythm by making simple changes in your daily routine in order to get the maximum results.
So, Which Is the Best Study Routine for Students?
Circadian periods or biological clocks varies from individual to individual. It depends mostly on a person’s PER gene.
According to research, about 25% of people have a natural circadian period which is slightly less than the 24-hour day, and the other 75% have a circadian period slightly more than 24 hours.
Individuals also have a chronotype, and some people (often known as “larks” or morning people) tend to wake up early and are most alert during the first part of the day, like many older people, while others (“night owls” or evening people) are most alert in the late evening and prefer to go to bed late, like many teenagers.
Therefore, we can conclude that there is no right time to study. It depends on each person’s body type.
However, in this article we aim to provide you information on how studying during different times of the day can work or not work for you.
Let’s see how we can determine which time is best for study-day or night?
The Early Risers ( Morning Hours of Study)
Have you often heard your friends saying “I’m a morning person?” This means that such types of people work best during the morning hours. That is, their grasping power is the best during day break.
Many times this is considered the best time for students to study because it is at this time that the brain is fresh and clutter free after a good night’s sleep.
5 Fantastic Tips to Become an Early Riser
1. Have a Good Night’s Sleep
Preferably 8 hours of sleep for teenagers is considered an optimum amount. Sleep is the foundation of good health. In fact, research has shown that students who get a good amount of sleep get better grades than those that have erratic sleep patterns.
2. Positivity
Being positive and enthusiastic about your day is a big motivation to get up early in the morning and study. Setting goals and a scheduled timetable will encourage you positively to start your day early.
3. Perfect Temperature
It is human nature to want to snuggle up in bed under the blanket on a cold wintery morning. This is a deterring factor when it comes to waking up in the morning.
That is why it is advisable to create the perfect temperature in your room. If the temperatures are cold in your area, create a warmer atmosphere in your room so that it is easier to get up.
4. Lighting
Early hours of the morning can still be dark with no natural lighting. Always make sure you study with appropriate lighting.
Poor lighting can have an adverse impact on your eyesight. It can cause eye strains, red or dry eyes. The quality of vision may deteriorate if you spend too much time in dark spaces.
5. A Splash of Water
A splash of water on your face will get you refreshed and raring to go. The water acts as a booster for your eyes just like how a morning coffee might do to your body.
Also Read Students Life Cycle – A Transformation Over the Years
Midday Maniacs (Afternoon Hours of Study)
Though this time may not be the right time to study for many students, you never know it could be your best time to study.
Some students may feel too lethargic to study after a good afternoon meal and may feel like dozing off on the desk.
Others may feel this is the best study routine for students.If you are a late riser, then starting to study in the afternoon may not be such a bad idea.
4 Amazing Tips to Be Able to Study Better in The Afternoon
1. Get up Late
When you get up late, your day starts later. Your biological clock starts its morning much later than an average early riser.
It’s not wrong or bad. It’s just your body type. However, if you are a later riser, make sure you plan your day accordingly.
2. Have a Light Snack
Having a light meal or snack just before starting your afternoon studies is a good idea. Remember your body has skipped its morning breakfast and needs to replenish itself with energy. Do not have a heavy meal that will make you lethargic.
3. Create a Conducive Environment
An early riser who starts the day around 5:00 am can eliminate the problem of sounds and activities around.
However if you are an afternoon person, you may want to make sure that there are minimal or no distractions around you.
Afternoons usually have everyone up and about doing their own work. This may interfere in your study schedules. Always ensure that you are not distracted by others activities around you.
4. Perfect Temperature and Lighting
Midday temperatures in many places are usually hot and sultry. This kind of weather may not be conducive to learning.
This type of weather may cause lethargy and laziness. Though you can not change the temperatures outside, you can do your bit by creating the perfect learning environment in your room or place of study.
Also, reading and learning with the right amount of light is very essential. Too much light or too less light can both have negative effects on your eyesight.
Too much exposure to light can cause headaches, nausea, blurred vision, dizziness and painful eyes. An article published in the IMD nutrition gives the reasons and treatment of light sensitivity conditions.
The Midnight Hooters ( Night Hours of Study)
There is a whole genre of people who think that the best time for students to study is the night. Again, it’s not wrong or bad.
It totally depends on what your body wants. If you think night time is the right time to study for you then look at these tips that will help you.
4 Exciting Tips to Be Able to Study Better at Night
1. Organise Your Day
Students who prefer to study at night must ensure that their days are well planned and well organised. With a well planned day, the night becomes less stressful and you can start your studies without a preoccupied mind.
2. Have a Light Dinner
Having a nutritious and light dinner can help you to study better. A heavy meal might make you feel uncomfortable and lazy.
3. Do Not Worry About Time
As you are a night owl, you are able to sleep late. So you have enough time to study at night without any disturbances from the sleeping world around you.
4. Create the Best Lighting and Temperature
As mentioned above, creating the perfect light and temperature will help you to study better. Nights are dark and therefore you must make ample arrangements to create the best lighting arrangements like a desk lamp.
Creating the best time for students to study often involves a number of other factors like best lighting arrangements. According to author Harry Brown in bestlightguide.com, lighting for students should have a neutral colour.
Natural White (3000-4000 kelvin) is the best. Warmer light might make you feel too relaxed, while cooler light can be overly stimulating. Soft light is closer to neutral light, so it’s preferable.
Comparatively, we can make a table that shows the advantages of studying during the day and the night. It will look something like this
| Studying During the Day | Studying During the Night |
| Mind is fresh from good sleep | Lesser distractions |
| Energy levels are high | Silent environment |
| Able to do group studies | Relaxed |
So what type of person are you? An early riser, a midday maniac or a night hooter? If you do not know which time is best for studying day or night, you can try the above tips under each category and see which time of the day suits you the best.
Apart from determining the best study routine for students, remember there are a number of other factors that contribute greatly to creating the right time to study, like nutritious food and appropriate sleep.
Conclusion
Whatever time of the day suits you the best, remember organisation skills are most important. Organise your day to suit your biological clock. With a bit of planning, you can extract the best during your “me” time.
