Does the time of day affect students’ ability to learn? Do certain times of the day have a higher potential for success?
There are many theories surrounding whether there are differences between the way people learn at different times of day. Some believe that if you sleep during the day, you are less able to focus and concentrate.
Others suggest that children and teenagers are better learners in the morning because their brains are still developing.
The most effective time for studying and productive time are in the morning. This is when your brain is fresh and alert.
However, it’s not always possible to study or work at any particular time. If you’re working on something important, then you need to be flexible with your schedule.
How time of day affects students’ brains?
When you’re studying, do you feel like a different person when you wake up in the morning than when you go to bed at night?
Do you have trouble focusing on what’s going on around you while you are awake but not asleep? If so, then you may be suffering from sleep deprivation!
Sleep is essential for our brains to function properly. It helps us process information, learn new things, remember important facts, and even make decisions.
Inequality in time spent can lead to stress and anxiety. Students who spend more time sleeping tend to perform worse academically.
They also experience greater levels of depression and lower self-esteem.
If you don’t get enough sleep, this will negatively impact how well you think and act. You’ll find yourself feeling tired all the time, which makes it harder to pay attention and complete tasks.
You might start thinking about schoolwork before you’ve had breakfast, making it difficult to stay focused throughout the entire day.
You must have instructional time and rest periods. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 hours per night for adults.
For teens, they recommend 9 hours.
This means getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every single night. However, some studies show that adolescents require 10 hours of sleep each night.
It’s recommended that kids should take naps after lunchtime as part of their daily routine. Napping has been shown to improve memory retention and concentration.
The day studier
If you’re looking for tips about how best to use your time as a college student, consider these suggestions:
- Start early – If possible, try to get an hour or two before class starts so you can prepare yourself mentally and physically for the upcoming academic session. You’ll feel less stressed out if you start off right.
- Take breaks – It helps to take short breaks throughout the day to give your mind a chance to rest. Try taking five-minute walks around campus every half hour.
Benefits of studying during the day
- You can get your homework done before you go out into the world.
- Your memory will be sharper because you’ve had a chance to rest and recharge.
- It’s easy to stay focused throughout the entire class period if you’re not interrupted by other activities.
- If you need to take an exam later in the day, you’ll feel less tired than if you studied late at night.
The night studier
If you’re an early riser, then studying later in the day might not be as effective because you’ll still need to get ready for class before heading out the door.
If you prefer to stay awake late into the night, however, studies show that you will retain more information than if you studied in the daytime.
Studies also indicate that nighttime learners perform better on tests given in the middle of the night compared to those taken in the morning.
Some better-off students prefer to study at night because they enjoy being able to focus without interruption from family members. Others like to do their work when everyone else is asleep.
There are pros and cons to both approaches. Some people say that doing assignments while others are sound asleep causes them to lose interest in what they were reading.
Others claim that working with no distractions allows them to concentrate much easier.
What are the best time to study for primary school students?
When choosing the best times to study, remember that there isn’t one perfect answer. There are many factors involved such as age, personality type, and even location.
However, here are some general guidelines to help you decide whether it would make sense to choose certain times over others:
- Morning vs afternoon
Most experts agree that children who begin their lessons between 6am and 11am tend to learn faster than those who start classes closer to noon.
For secondary school students they also prefer to have their first lesson in the morning rather than the afternoon. This is due to the fact that most teenagers don’t want to wake up earlier than necessary.
This doesn’t mean that all schools must follow this rule though. Many teachers believe that having longer periods of free time in the mornings gives students more opportunity to explore new ideas and concepts.
- Evening vs midnight
Many parents find themselves wondering why their child seems to struggle to understand things when he/she gets home from school. The reason may lie within the hours of the evening or night.
Children who spend long periods of time alone after dinner often become restless and fall asleep. They may also miss important cues about how well they did on a test or assignment.
Midnight is another popular choice among parents since it provides plenty of uninterrupted sleep.
However, research shows that children who study at this time usually end up falling asleep during the course of their lessons.
A Wife, a mum and a Tutor! I am the Lead Editor at TheTutor.Link & also the Head Tutor there. I love teaching seeing young minds flourish. I also love blogging and sharing my experience on the world wide web.