Many people wonder what is the best time to study and get better results. However, this is a complex question and involves a number of factors. There is no ideal time for everyone, but an ideal time for each individual. To better understand this topic, we must understand how our bodies work and better understand our biological rhythms.
→ circadian rhythm
are called circadian rhythm the cyclical changes that occur in metabolism over a period of 24 hours, that is, all the changes that occur in one day. This cycle depends on the biological clock, which is normally synchronized with the light and dark cycles of the environment, although there are activities in rhythms independent of these variations.
Read too: Biological clock
Circadian rhythm is related, for example, to the concentration of cortisol, a hormone related to various metabolic processes. There is, for example, an increase in cortisol in the early hours of the morning and its fall throughout the day. THE melatonin, known as the sleep hormone, is secreted at night and is also associated with circadian rhythms.
Not all people have good performance at night, and this is related to their biological clock.
The circadian rhythm is essential for our body to function properly, and its alteration leads to maladjustments in the body's rhythm. Travel, for example, triggers sudden time zone changes. These changes can lead to the call jet lag, a malaise generated by the alteration in the biological rhythm.
It is very important to know how the body works to know when a person is most active and, consequently, what is the best time to study. Many people, however, do not know their body well, so they force themselves to work or study at inappropriate times at their own pace, triggering discomfort.
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→ Chronotype
Each person's rhythm is unique: some people are more nocturnal, others more diurnal. Understanding the chronotype (pace of each individual) is essential to identify the best time to study. Briefly, we can classify individuals into three types:
Mornings: They prefer to wake up and sleep early and are more alert in the morning.
Evenings: They wake up and sleep late and have greater performance in activities during the afternoon and at night. This habit usually leads these people to have few hours of sleep during the week, due to morning commitments. With this, the individual ends up having sleep deprivation and, consequently, greater indisposition and need for naps during the day.
Read too:the importance of sleep
Intermediary: They have no preference for schedules and are able to adjust more easily to schedules.
Not knowing your own body can lead to low achievement in your studies.
To identify an individual's chronotype, it is necessary to answer a series of questions. Some questionnaires are available on the internet and can help with this identification. In addition, you can make a diary of notes of the times you usually sleep and wake up. This data can be valuable for identifying the best performance time in activities.
We can conclude that knowing your body is essential to ensure a better quality of life and to improve your performance in activities. It is essential to highlight that the best time to study is when you are most active, and this information is completely individual. Thus, there is no “magic” schedule for everyone. In addition, regardless of the time of study, it is essential be well fed and respect the limits of your body.
By Ma. Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is the best time to study?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/curiosidades/qual-melhor-horario-para-estudar.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
