Have you figured out what time of day you should be studying?
Let’s assume that you have managed to get into the habit of practicing daily. The next question is how you can get the most out of that routine.
So how should you figure out how to get the most out of your routine?
Test it!
For me, I know that I function best working late at night. I’m more creative. I’m more focused. I’m able to concentrate for longer.
It’s been that way since my teenage years. But I have also tested it. I have tried to work in the mornings. And for me, it doesn’t really work.
I once tried to get up early and study. I did this every day for a week. What usually happened was I would procrastinate and potter around until midmorning when I would start to find my stride and begin proper work.
Now, this could be different for you. We all operate on a slightly different time clock. The only way to know for yourself is to test it.
But, to explore the idea a little further, there are some defined pros and cons of working at different times of the day regardless of your natural body clock.
In general, we do our most creative work at night. Language learning isn’t typically known as a creative pursuit but it could be useful if you were trying to test a new turn of phrase, for example.
The more important idea, and what you should focus on when testing yourself, is how you best absorb information. What is the best way for you to learn something and have it stick?
We are all different and I can’t say for sure what will work for you. But it is worth trying.
In today’s podcast, I’m going to look at the time of day you should be studying. I’m going to look at larks and owls and how this applies to you. And lastly, I’m going to pull some inspiration from a few interesting people to see how they feel about the role of the subconscious mind and its effects on memory and problem-solving.
The reference in today’s podcast to the article by Hemingway is here:
– Monologue to the Maestro: A High Seas Letter
The books mentioned in this episode are:
– The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep (Harvard Medical School Guides)
– Josh Waitzkin: The Art of Learning
The quote from the episode is:
“It is because the body is a machine that education is possible. Education is the formation of habits, a superinducing of an artificial organization upon the natural organization of the body.” – Thomas Henry Huxley
What time of day best suits you for study?
Podcast: Play in new window
Leave a Reply