We all have times of day when we can race through our to-do list, concentrate effortlessly, and produce our best work. And we all have times of day when we just want to slump on the sofa and watch something mindless on the television.
Here’s how to figure out when you study best, so that you can plan your studying for your most effective hours. Studying when you’re on tip-top form will make your day go much more smoothly.
1. Experiment with studying at different times of day
Even if you think you’re a night owl or a morning lark, try studying at hours that you wouldn’t normally work. If you tend to wake up s-l-o-w-l-y and rarely do anything but drink coffee and surf the ‘net until midday, try starting studying as soon as you’re dressed, for a change. If you never work after dinner, try making an essay plan at ten pm.
You may well just confirm your suspicions that you study best at a specific time - but you might also surprise yourself!
2. Keep a “study log” for a few days
Once you’ve got a feel for the times when you think you study well, start keeping a log for a few days. It’s up to you how you do this, but one simple method is to grab a sheet of paper for each day and divide it up like this:
- 8am - 10am
- 10am - 12noon
- 12noon - 2pm
- 2pm - 4pm
- 4pm - 6pm
- 6pm - 8pm
- 8pm - 10pm
(Obviously, jiggle the times around a bit if you get up at 6am or if you’re never in bed before 2am…)
As you go through the day, jot down what you’re doing during each timeslot (eg. “writing essay on Chaucer”, “having lunch then watching television”) and also write down how you’re feeling; tired, motivated, energetic. After doing this for a few days, you’ll have built up a clear picture of when you can work easily, and when you struggle to concentrate.
3. Plan your day to maximise your best times
The final step is to put what you’ve learnt about yourself into practice. For some students, you may be tied to studying at specific times - perhaps you have lab sessions from 9am - 5pm. Most students, though, have considerable flexibility over their schedules; far more than the majority of full-time employees.
If you know you concentrate well from 8am-10am, then make sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour so you’re actually awake during your best studying hours. If you’ve been going to the gym at lunchtime, but find you’re great at racing through essays between 12-2pm, then why not head to the gym during your 4pm-6pm “slump” instead?
Many people find that they can accomplish as much in one hour of solid, focused attention during their “best” time as in two or three hours of frustrated effort during a time of day when they’re naturally tired. Make sure your schedule is working for you, not against you.
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