Key Takeaways
- To maximize your study sessions and help you remember information for longer, try implementing some of these science-backed study hacks, including: “chunking” information by breaking it down, reviewing notes frequently so as not to fall victim to the Forgetting Curve, exercising before studying, and using the Pomodoro Method for built-in short breaks.
- The best time to study is at your peak performance time—when your brain feels most alert and focused.
- Morning people may perform better with early study sessions, while night owls may benefit from studying before bed.
Kristy Venosdale via Flickr
When it comes to studying, we’ve all heard the typical advice: study hard, study often, and make sure you don’t leave things until the last minute. But what does “study hard” and “ study often” actually mean, and is it the same for everyone? The truth is, how and when you study does matter. In fact, finding the best time to study and using helpful study hacks can make all the difference for your academics—and keep you from burning out.
Want to study smarter, not harder? We’ve done the research and collected some science-backed study hacks to improve your study methods and help you find the best study time for you.
How to Study: 4 Study Hacks Proven by Science
As a student, you’ll likely hear a lot of study hacks from professors, peers, or even social media. Some may sound useful, while others—like staying up all night to cram or finish papers in one go—might not seem like a helpful habit you want to adopt. The five study hacks below aren’t just random advice; they’re backed by research. Take a look at each and see why they actually work:
1. Learn by “Chunking”
If you’ve ever crammed for a test, then you may understand how overwhelming it is to take in a lot of information all at once. This is because your working memory can’t hold all of those facts at once, and you tend to quickly forget most of what you learned. One way to overcome this knowledge loss is to “chunk” topics together.
The theory behind chunking is that people tend to remember information better when they break related ideas into smaller chunks. This is all based on how the brain processes information. Research has consistently shown that people can recall a string of numbers or names that is five to nine objects long. So, on average, our working memory can only hold about seven pieces of information at a time.
If you ever find yourself in a (non-ideal) situation where you need to remember a large amount of information in a short amount of time, try chunking facts together. For instance, instead of memorizing a list of random historical dates, group them by major events or themes. By doing this, you create mental shortcuts that help your brain retain more information.
2. Don’t Fall Victim to the Forgetting Curve
Have you ever left class and remembered every bit of information your professor shared? Probably not, and that’s all thanks to what is known as the Forgetting Curve. This mathematical model was created by Hermann Ebbinghaus in the late 19th century and shows the rate at which we tend to lose information if we don’t actively try to retain it. In fact, according to the curve, “we forget 50% of all new information within a day, and 90% of all new information within a week.”
Unsurprisingly, the more time you review information in your mind, the better your chances of remembering it long-term. Every day, your brain takes in an astounding amount of sensory information and must then decide what to hold on to and what to forget. One way it decides what takes priority is by paying more attention to information that it has processed multiple times.
So, how do you combat this when it comes to studying? Here are a few effective ways:
- Instead of cramming, try to review your notes or materials a little bit every day in short, 10-15 minute sessions.
- Strengthen your brain by challenging your brain to retrieve information through active recall—when you actively retrieve information from your brain (practice tests, flashcards), rather than trying to put it into your brain (reading a textbook or notes).
- Try to link new information to what you already know so that you create associations that make the material easier to remember.
3. Exercise Before You Study (And Consistently!)
To give your energy and brain a boost, try exercising before you hit the books. We all know that exercise is good for our physical health, but did you know it has both short and long-term effects on our cognition as well?
When you exercise, your body responds to the physical stress by activating your “fight or flight” system, sending extra oxygen-rich blood to your brain. This activation helps you think faster and make quick, “life-saving” decisions. Your hippocampus—the part of your brain that handles memory and reasoning—gets a workout too. Besides short-term boosts in memory, regular exercise can actually slow down age-related shrinkage of the hippocampus.
Erickson KI, Voss MW, Prakash RS, Bsak C, Szabo A, Chaddock L, Kim JS, Heo S, Alves H, White SM, Wojcicki TR, Mailey E, Vieira VJ, Martin SA, Pence BD, Woods JA, McAuley E, Kramer AF. Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2011) 108: 3017–3022.
Exercise doesn’t have to be intense, either. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends just 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week to maximize benefits. That can equate to small lifestyle changes, like walking or biking to class. Even just a 15-20 minute walk daily can help improve focus and reduce stress before your study session.
4. Break up Long Study Sessions for Better Focus
You may be tempted to commit yourself to hours-long study sessions. And sure, there’s nothing wrong with having the occasional all-nighter, but making sure you give yourself short breaks while you work can make all the difference.
Studies have shown that when people try to focus on a single task for a long period of time, their minds start to wander. It’s similar to hearing the same sound repeatedly—it eventually fades into background noise. The idea is the same for a task you’re trying to focus on. The longer you work on something, the harder it becomes to stay engaged—regardless of whether the task is difficult or not.
Here’s the good news: taking short, intermittent breaks can actually help you regain focus and study more effectively. One strategy that works well is the Pomodoro Method. Here’s how to use it:
- Set a timer for 20 minutes and focus on studying.
- When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Do something different—grab a snack, stretch, or start another task, like tossing in a load of laundry.
- Repeat steps one and two, up to four times.
- After repeating this process four times, take a longer break of about 30 minutes before refocusing on your studies.
When to Study: Find Your Peak Time
Just as how you break up study time matters, the timing of your study sessions also matters. You’ve probably heard that some people are “early risers” while others are “night owls.” In reality, the best time to study depends on when you’re most alert, energized, and ready to learn—or what’s known as your “peak performance” time.
Morning Learners
If you’re someone who wakes up feeling refreshed and ready to go, your brain is more likely to be sharp and ready to take on new information at the start of the day. This could be due to a more stable circadian rhythm (your internal body clock that tells you how sleepy or awake you feel), which helps improve sleep quality. A well-rested brain is more efficient at concentrating, so tackling your toughest subjects first thing in the morning could set the tone for a productive day. So if you’re a morning person, take advantage of that early energy boost.
Nighttime Learners
If you’re more of a night owl, you might actually have a brain that thrives after the sun goes down. A collaborative study published by researchers from Notre Dame and Harvard concludes that studying right before bed could help with memory retention. Their findings suggest that a good night’s sleep can actually help stabilize the memories we’ve formed throughout the day. So, when you study at night, your brain has more time to process and store that information while you sleep—making it easier to recall later on. Therefore, if you’re feeling more focused and creative at night, try squeezing in your study session after dinner or shortly before bed.
Creating a Study Schedule That Works for You
The best time to study can depend on several factors, including your natural body rhythm, personal preferences, and daily schedule. Here’s how to get the most out of your studying time:
- Find Your Peak Time: Try studying at different times of the day and pay close attention to when you feel most focused and productive. Are you energized and ready to dive into tasks first thing in the morning? Or do you come alive when the sun sets? Try to align your studying with your natural circadian rhythm.
- Stick to a Study Plan: Finding the right time to study is just step one; sticking to it is what’s going to be a game changer. Set your study times consistently so your brain gets into a rhythm—the more you follow a consistent rhythm, the easier it will be to retain information.
- Prioritize Sleep: Getting a good night’s rest of 8-9 hours will not only help your brain retain information better, but it will also help you recharge and feel more prepared to have a productive day.
Planning your study time around your peak performance times and using some of these science-backed study hacks can maximize your study time, improve your focus, and increase retention. Not all of these study hacks will work for everyone, but it’s worth trying them out to see if they can provide you with even a small advantage. Time is precious—why study in a way that’s not helping you learn the best you possibly can?
Oh, and while you’re optimizing your study time, why not optimize your college search too? Check out the College Raptor College Match tool to find your best-fit college based on GPA, test scores, location, and culture.
