If you step into an undergrad campus around midterms or finals, it’s not at all uncommon to find students up at all hours. While some may take a well-rounded and considerably healthier approach to studying, there are others who prefer to study 24/7.
But students who prefer to study at night are onto something.
This doesn’t mean you should spend all night cramming.
In fact, most students who pull all-nighters tend to suffer academically more than students who still get a good night’s sleep, according to one study.
But researchers have found there are benefits to studying at night rather than in the morning.
Morning Bird or Night Owl? Turns out it doesn’t really matter
Each person has a natural circadian rhythm, or a natural body cycle that indicates at what time your body is best prepared for certain events such as sleeping or studying.
If you consider yourself a creative person, fatigue may actually boost your creativity, according to the Wall Street Journal. This means that you get an extra jolt of energy that gives you that edge to power through your studies.
No hectic schedules
Everyone has obligations during the daytime. Think about it. You have to wake up, get dressed, start your day, eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner; go to classes, run errands, and meet up with that friend you promised to hang out with.
Whether we like it or not, the daytime is a busy time. And not everyone can make the time to study as much as they would like.
Your brain can work past 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yes, you may clock out at 5 p.m., but that doesn’t mean you should.
Student are typically more cognizant later in the day and later that usual class time, says a study by the University of Nevada-Reno.
The brain can learn effectively up until 11 p.m., the study says.
So maybe it’s time we trade our 8 a.m.’s for 8 p.m.’s.
Morning grogginess
“It’s harder to get up in the morning,” says Hayley Murray at the College of Charleston, “I like to study at night.”
Whether you consider yourself a morning person, everyone experiences a mental cloud when first waking up.
This lapse in consciousness is known as sleep inertia.This is when your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain in charge of complex thought, lags behind your thalamus, the part of your brain that fires up your conscious
This means the thinking part of your brain has to play catch-up for a few hours to start your day.
There is a natural inclination to be less awake and aware in the morning, so why try to fight it? Save studying for a time where you have all the energy and nutrients you need.
No one orders pizza to study in the morning
It may sound silly, but after a busy day, it’s nice to find a silver lining to hitting the books. Many students find camaraderie in having study nights together, and study nights mean pizza.
Finding people who are in the same mindset as you helps ease the nerves and pressure of studying for a tough exam.
Applying a social aspect, and a delicious aspect, to your studying can help you realize you really aren’t alone. And suddenly your night becomes that much bearable.
by Melanie Wolfertz
CougarBuzz 