When to Study to Make the Most of It

You can save yourself a lot of time by learning when to study. Everyone has their own personal sleep/wake cycle, which will effect at what time of day/night they are most alert and motivated. If you are generally a night person, don't expect to be very productive during an a.m. study session and vice versa. Many people tend to crash between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon and might find it difficult to focus on their studies during this time. However, everyone is different. Find out what times are best for you to study and what times that you should definitely avoid and try to schedule accordingly.

While the best time to study is different for everyone, there are some general rules that apply to all. First of all, you shouldn't wait until the last minute. If you go to class, take good notes, do your homework and study sporadically throughout the semester, you should be well prepared when exam time comes around. If you have done your work, you should only have to review your notes in the week leading up to your test and focus on whatever concepts you might be having trouble with.

If you wait until the night before a test to begin studying, you will be tempted to stay up trying to cram a semester's worth of information into your brain in one night. Not only will you be groggy and stressed in the morning, but you will be more likely to forget most of what you read the night before.

Instead of cramming, schedule short study sessions throughout the semester and especially in the week leading up to your exam. One hour each night for a week is better than seven hours the night before the test. This will allow you to get a full eight hours of sleep the night before the test and wake up in plenty of time to eat breakfast, get to your test on a few minutes early, and maybe even have a few minutes to take one last look at your class notes.

You will get the most out of your study time if you are undistracted. Therefore, schedule study time for when you know your roommates will be at work and your house will be quiet or during library hours, where you are guaranteed peace and quiet.

It's also a good idea to study after some light exercise or a snack, as you will have more energy and be more productive. However, studying after a big meal or intense exercise can be less productive as you are more likely to be fatigued. If you did wait until the last minute and are forced to endure a marathon study session, taking breaks to get up and move around and eating snacks that are high in protein and low in sugar will help you to get through it.