Late night studying

[itsamz]

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I've recently started my post bacc journey and am currently taking one class (A&P). I work full time (40-50 hrs/ week) and I find that the only time I have to study during the week is at night/ weekends. I have no issue studying on weekends. However, when it comes to nights, its a whole different story. Heres the thing: I am SUCH a morning person. I get exhausted by 9pm and usually can't stay up much later. Unfortunately, my mornings are tied up with other responsibilities that prevent me from studying (ie: getting things ready, taking care of the pets, exercising).

Has anyone experienced this before? Any tips on how to stay up and stay effective?

 

[drimpossible]

I've taken A&P in the past (while working full time). I think the key with any successful studying is being efficient with your time. In terms of structure, I have found blocking out every hour in my day with google calendar helpful in organizing my time - factoring in commuting time, etc. If you don't work well past 9PM, try to block off 7:30-9PM every night for A&P study. You could probably make do with 1.5 hours or so of reading/note taking per weekday, while ramping up your weekend efforts (5-6 hours per day for HW, review, flashcards, etc.). Your dog won't care if you walk it/throw the ball at 9PM versus 7PM. At least, mine doesn't. Good luck. 🙂

 

[katiemaude]

You could juice yourself up on caffeine, but I wouldn't recommend it right before sleeping.

I find it easiest to study during my most alert hours. If that's the early morning for you, postpone doing other things to later in the day when brain power isn't as critical. Can you exercise right after work? Get up a couple hours earlier (and go to bed earlier)?

I'm pretty useless at retaining important info the first few hours of the day, so early a.m. classes for me made it necessary for me to get up earlier than most of my classmates (e.g. 6 a.m. for a 9 a.m. class, or 5 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class).

Currently I'm only taking evening classes and I go to my job, which isn't at all mentally taxing, in the morning. If I need a nap, I take one in the early afternoon and then I study for several hours before class at 6:30. I review the material once I get home after 10 p.m.

 

[brittat]

I took A&P while working full-time too. I agree that using your weekends to the fullest potential is your best bet. I do nearly all of my studying and assignments on the weekend and only leave specific small tasks for during the week like "memorize molecular geometry chart", etc.

Or you could try and combine activities and see if it works best for your learning style? Read flashcards on the treadmill or record lectures and listen to them at your desk at work? Use your lunch hour too (if you can), I get a lot done with my office door closed and Chem book open!

Unfortunately, as you get further along in the journey you may discover you have to sacrifice some of your morning activities to study if you can't make it work in the evenings. Especially if you're more effective in the morning hours.

Good luck and welcome to the club!

 

[hello3angel]

I am having the exact same issue taking chem and chem lab. I study fine on weekends, but many times I have little time if any one weekday evenings. I'd be interested in hearing what advice others might have!

I've recently started my post bacc journey and am currently taking one class (A&P). I work full time (40-50 hrs/ week) and I find that the only time I have to study during the week is at night/ weekends. I have no issue studying on weekends. However, when it comes to nights, its a whole different story. Heres the thing: I am SUCH a morning person. I get exhausted by 9pm and usually can't stay up much later. Unfortunately, my mornings are tied up with other responsibilities that prevent me from studying (ie: getting things ready, taking care of the pets, exercising).

Has anyone experienced this before? Any tips on how to stay up and stay effective?

 

[CW 2010]

I find it easiest to study during my most alert hours. If that's the early morning for you, postpone doing other things to later in the day when brain power isn't as critical. Can you exercise right after work? Get up a couple hours earlier (and go to bed earlier)?

I agree with katiemaude.

Do things that don't require brain work when you are tired/not-yet-awake/already-almost-asleep. You don't need much thinking for a walk with the dog or running on a treadmill. This can be done automatically. But you need to be able to concentrate when you study.

 

[phonedoctor]

Everyone has their own studying styles and methods. Normally I read the chapter a day before its been taught in school. I will take like 2 hours of my time (mostly after 9:00 pm when kid is in bed), a day before the class and try to read it like a novel. All the important concepts that I find difficult, I will note down in a piece of paper.

The next day in school, I will pay extra attention for those topics. Also I will try to solve all the extra problems that day in school and make sure I have everything grasped/absorbed for that lecture before I leave that classroom. I find this method to be the most efficient and you will always be in control.

That way I stay ahead of the curve.

 

[PostHaste]

I find it easiest to study during my most alert hours. If that's the early morning for you, postpone doing other things to later in the day when brain power isn't as critical. Can you exercise right after work? Get up a couple hours earlier (and go to bed earlier)?

I think this is the key. If you can't stay up later, then just get up earlier. It all comes out to the same number of hours whether you're studying at night or in the morning. Might as well do it when it's better for you.

 

[spiderpete]

I think this is the key. If you can't stay up later, then just get up earlier. It all comes out to the same number of hours whether you're studying at night or in the morning. Might as well do it when it's better for you.

^ this.

I too am a morning person. My commitments are kids more than pets, though that is part of the mix, 8 hours/semester and about 15 hrs/week work.

My routine was to get up at 4, exercise (sometimes listening to MCAT lectures or recordings from school, often just tunes), drive to school (~1 hr - more audio lectures), study before and in between classes, drive home (tunes, NPR), family time till 9pm , then bed. During test weeks and close to MCAT the family time and weekends got dented. Exercise and diet were essential to making this work - I just couldn't manage to drag myself outa bed if I was bad to my body.

Your work week sounds harder. Something may have to give. Whatever you do needs to be sustainable. Its a long road, but do-able.

gl