Whether you are a student, a researcher, or a teacher, it’s impossible to underestimate the edge that extra hours of study give. As students, we typically learn to study for certain hours per day. In most cases, studying for this amount of time becomes a habit.
What if you can stretch your study time by a few more hours? Imagine the edge it’ll give you. It’s hard, no doubt, but achievable. We’ve written this article to help you understand how you can increase your daily study time to 12 hours. We’ll also discuss how you can get over distractions during this time. Read on to find out more.
Is Studying 12 Hours a Day Possible?
As students, you’ll often talk about the possibilities of studying for long hours. In fact, one of the most common questions that usually pop up in such conversations is whether it is possible to study for twelve hours a day.
Yes, it is possible to study 12 hours a day. It seems like a lot of work because it truly is, but if you can persevere and follow the helpful tips in this article, you definitely can do it. It is just like any other activity. As you can learn how to swim or dance, you can also learn how to study 12 hours a day.
Let’s start by looking at how individuals can break their 24 hours into segments to contain enough time for this kind of reading.
We’ll call our sample individual, Mr. A. Mr. A sleeps for 8 hours, dedicates 2 hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, spends 1 hour on social activities, and another 1 hour for self-care. A is left with 12 hours, and this individual can decide to study for the 12 hours.
Now the point is, 8 hours of sleep is perfect for a person; the other activities are relatively good for the number of hours allocated. Therefore, if A can do it, you can do it.
Whether you’re a full-time employee juggling work commitment, a parent balancing childcare duties, or a student managing part-time work alongside studies, adjusting your schedule to accommodate 12 hours of study each day requires strategic planning.
Despite these varied personal commitments, with the right amount of discipline and determination, anybody can learn how to study for extended periods. Are you wondering how that’s possible? Well, our next section explains how you can adapt your routine, no matter your current responsibilities.
How to Study for Long Hours with Concentration?
Understanding the potential to study for 12 hours a day is just the beginning. The crucial step is to transform this awareness into immediate action. Embracing a 12-hour study schedule is a bold commitment that demands extraordinary focus and discipline.
To navigate this ambitious journey and maintain concentration for extended periods, implementing practical strategies from the outset is essential. Here are the prioritized steps to ensure you maximize your study sessions effectively:
- Take immediate action: The moment you realize the possibility of studying for 12 hours a day, it’s time to act. Begin by setting a clear plan for the next day, outlining what you intend to study and when. This helps cement your commitment and turn your newfound awareness into a routine.
- Identify your study motivation: Keep the reasons for your long study hours constantly in mind. Whether preparing for an exam or aiming to master a subject, let this purpose be your light. It will serve as a source of motivation, especially when you encounter challenges in maintaining focus.
- Associate positive outcomes with studying: Enhance your motivation by connecting your study efforts with positive results. Visualize the happiness and approval from yourself upon achieving your goals. This emotional link can significantly boost your drive and concentration.
- Incorporate meditation and mindfulness: You can incorporate breathing exercises, body scan meditation, or guided meditation. You can use various apps for your guided meditation, including Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer, and MyLife Meditation.
- Maintain proper nutrition: Never underestimate the power of nutrition on your ability to concentrate. Ensure you eat well before starting and during breaks in your study session to avoid distractions from hunger.
- Ensure a distraction-free study space: Minimize distractions to maintain focus during long study sessions. Use noise-cancelling headphones to block out external noise and dedicate a specific, clutter-free area of your home for studying. This helps create a conducive environment for concentration and productivity.
How to Study for Long Hours Without Distraction?
It’s one thing to master the act of studying for long hours. It is another thing to maintain maximum concentration during these long hours of intense studies.
Admittedly, it is almost impossible to study for about 4 hours at a stretch without being distracted. It might not even be a physical form of distraction like your housemate playing a video game out loud or your smartphone vibrating every minute.
It could be intrusive thoughts that won’t stop running circles around in your head, and this can make studying frustrating, and more so if it has to go on for long hours. So, how can one go about this?
The following are some tips that can help reduce or even eliminate distractions for long-hour study:
- Limit socializing and internet use: While socializing and taking internet breaks can be refreshing, they can also become distractions that hinder productivity. To effectively study for long hours, it is crucial to know when to minimize interactions with friends and avoid using the internet for leisure during breaks.
- Keep your devices away throughout the study period: The importance of putting every device away during study times cannot be overemphasized. A slight buzz in your cell phone or a notification can cause you to lose concentration for several minutes.
- Study in a quiet place and try using headphones: Avoid studying in very noisy places. If you have to battle with the noise of little kids at home, it’ll be better to move somewhere else. We usually recommend a quiet library for better concentration during studies.
- Combat intrusive thoughts: Maintain a list of your positive attributes to counter negative thoughts. Utilize journaling to process these thoughts and relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, to calm your mind.
How Many Hours Can You Study for a Test?
The maximum hours of study per day for a test differ among people. However, to determine how many hours to study a day, you need to consider some factors. These factors include the environment, your daily schedule, the type and difficulty of the test, and your state of mind – anxious, panicking, relaxed, or confident.
So, how many hours to study continuously? According to a survey, most college students spend an average of 10-13 hours per week studying, which translates to less than 2 hours per day. This is significantly less than the expected study time based on credit hours, where for each hour in class, students are recommended to spend around 2-3 hours on outside-of-class work.
For a full-time student taking a typical load of five 3-credit classes, this would amount to around 45 hours per week dedicated to class and study time combined.
Whatever the number of hours you dedicate to study for a test, the most important thing is to make good use of the study time. If the test is a tough one, you might need to learn how to study 12 hours a day. Generally, achieving good grades requires work. Most educational experts recommend studying for at least 5 hours a day for a test.
You can test your capabilities by creating a timetable. If you are used to studying for 8 hours a day, try creating a timetable where you’ll allocate a slightly longer time to studying. Gradually, you can continue to increase it until it gets to twelve hours.
Compare the concentration levels, distraction levels, and assimilation rates of each timeframe. You can also try learning how to study for long hours at night if you write many tests. There is never a maximum number of hours to study for a test. Instead, you can always try to increase your daily study hours.
7 Tips to Study Long Hours Effectively
What if you could increase your daily study time from 8 to 12 hours? It may be difficult, but it is not impossible. The following are seven helpful tips to help you increase your maximum hours of study per day and boost your daily productivity.
Establish a diverse study routine
Combining a structured routine with varied study techniques can significantly enhance efficiency and reduce strain. Planning your day or week in advance with a to-do list not only clarifies your tasks but also ensures balanced time allocation for each study activity.
Diversify your methods by integrating digital and traditional approaches. Begin with softcopy materials and online research for a segment of your study period, then switch to pen and paper for summarizing and note-taking. This not only prevents eye strain from prolonged screen time but also keeps the study process engaging and resource-efficient.
Incorporate active learning strategies
Beyond varying your study mediums, apply active learning techniques to deepen understanding and retention. This could include teaching the material to someone else, creating mind maps, or using flashcards for review sessions. Active learning makes study sessions more interactive and can significantly improve your grasp of complex concepts.
Exercise
You must have a strong mind and a strong body if you want to have a strong intellect. You won’t be able to study for long hours if your body is tired. Physical activity improves learning capacity and long-term memory. It also helps in reducing anxiety and sadness, according to researchers. Regular exercising has several advantages, including improved focus, alertness, and stamina.
Eat to keep your energy levels up
Your brain is an organ that requires a high amount of energy to function effectively. If you deprive your body, especially your brain, of energy, you pretty much won’t be able to do anything. This does not mean you should overeat, as overeating can make you tired, and lethargy is never a good thing when it comes to focusing.
Also, keep your body hydrated. Dehydration can make you tired easily. Drinking lots of water can also be helpful when studying for long hours at night.
Take regular breaks
Taking regular breaks during sessions is essential to avoid burnout. After 50 minutes of focused study, a short break of 5-10 minutes can significantly help in regaining focus. Here are a few examples of relaxing activities:
- Take a short walk
- Practice deep breathing or meditation
- Listen to calming music
- Stretching exercises
- Doodle or color
Make your study area a no-sleep zone
You might need to train your mind and body on how to study for long hours at night. This could be especially challenging if you had a busy day earlier. To avoid falling asleep, you should not make your study room too comfortable. You can also opt-in for bright lamps to keep you more active.
Develop good sleeping habits
Let us refer back to our case subject, shall we? Individual A was said to sleep for 8 hours a day. This simple information might not be convincing enough to accept that this person reads for 12 hours. However, if we consider individual A’s other activities and time allocated, we see that it is possible.
Sleeping well does not mean one cannot study long hours during the day. Establishing a routine will be of great help to someone who wants to learn how to study 12 hours a day. Research also shows that sleeping for long hours (6-8 hours) at a stretch is more beneficial than taking multiple short naps.
12 Hour Study Timetable
Here is a timetable to study 12 hours a day:
Time | Activity | Notes |
6:00 AM – 6:30 AM | Morning Routine | Wake up, freshen up |
6:30 AM – 8:00 AM | Study Session 1 | Focus on a challenging subject |
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM | Short Break | Breakfast, light stretching |
8:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Study Session 2 | Continue with a challenging subject or another priority |
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Short Break | Walk, meditate |
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Study Session 3 | Assignments or project work |
12:00 PM – 1: 00 PM | Lunch Break | Healthy meal, relax |
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Study Session 4 | New subject or continue morning subjects |
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Short Break | Snack, check social media |
3:15 PM – 5:15 PM | Study Session 5 | Revision or practice exercises |
5:15 PM – 5:30 PM | Short Break | Stretching, breathing exercises |
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Study Session 6 | Lighter subjects or creative tasks |
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Dinner Break | Dinner, short walk |
8:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Study Session 7 | Review the day’s work, prep for the next day |
10:30 PM | Wind Down | Prepare for bed, leisure reading |
Remember, it is important to adjust the schedule based on your own productivity patterns, study needs, and personal commitments. The inclusion of breaks and varied activities aims to keep the study process engaging and prevent fatigue.
What is the Best Time and Best Place to Study?
Research highlights the intricate role individual differences play in learning potentials and conceptual understanding. The transition from basic to more complex concepts, as influenced by personal learning histories and expertise, underscores the diversity in cognitive processing among learners.
This individual variation suggests that optimal study times can significantly differ from person to person, aligning with the notion that finding a personal peak learning time is crucial. For some, mornings may be more effective, while others might find different times of day better suited to their style and preferences.
Wrapping Things Up: How to Study 12 Hours a Day?
There you have it, everything you should know about studying for long hours. Extending the number of hours that you study means that you have very little time to concentrate on other things. Therefore, you must learn how to optimize the limited time you’ll have for other tasks.
While this may seem very difficult initially, it will soon become a habit if you practice consistently. The first place to start is by relaxing your mind and avoiding procrastination. Always remember how precious time is and the importance of making good use of it.