Are you a night or morning person? Well when it comes to your firefighter promotional exam prep there is not one best time of day to study, but there are definitely some pros and cons to studying in the morning and in the evenings.
One major benefit of studying in the morning is a clear brain. Everything from the day before has been consolidated and your brain is ready to start the new day with a clean slate with lots of room for new information to be absorbed. Most people, not all, also have more energy in the morning after a good night’s sleep. It is critical to be alert and energized when you are studying for your firefighter promotional exam.
A huge benefit of studying in the morning is the natural light. Natural light will help you stay awake and focused as you work on your firefighter promotional exam study guides and reading. Natural light is said to be associated with, “improved mood, enhanced morale, lower fatigue, and reduced eyestrain,” all things that are critical when studying. So if you are a morning person, open a window and let that natural light in to maximize your study session.
One major benefit of daytime studying is if you get stuck on something you can ask someone else for help. Your study team probably won’t appreciate being woken up in the middle of the night to help you with your problem. It can be difficult to keep studying when you are stuck on a certain topic. If you prefer to study at night, consider keeping a list of things you need help with from someone else and do your best to keep studying. If you can’t go on without the information that is a good cue to stop for the night.
If you prefer to study in the evening or at night you may get the added benefit of studying in peace and quiet. There is generally less noise from outside traffic, and less human interruption, assuming the people in your life are not also up late into the night to disturb you. So if you are having trouble studying because of distractions and interruptions, studying at night might be a good option for you.
The biggest benefit of studying in the evening or at night is memory consolidation when you go to sleep. While you sleep your brain will do the hard work of consolidating all of the new information for you. If you fall asleep shortly after a study session, you will wake up feeling refreshed and be able to better recall the information you studied the night before better than if you had studied in the morning. Also, be sure to get plenty of sleep during the period you are studying for your promotion exam. That can be hard when working on shift, but try to get to bed a little earlier if you can when your test date is approaching.
There is not one time of day that is better for everyone to study, but there is probably a time of day that is better for you. As you begin your firefighter promotional exam study journey try studying at various times of day to determine what time of day you are able to be most motivated and productive. The most important part is to set aside and commit to studying everyday no matter what. If you can make it work when you feel the best then that is even better!