What is your average daily study time?

[nightdove]

constraints on reaching optimal study hours

I've found out that 6 hrs/day for 6 weeks is the maximum amount of studying my body can take. Beyond this point, any further effort gives me a severe bout of eye-strain and migraines that won't resolve without at least a 4-5 day break of not reading, not watching TV, not playing the computer... It's horrible. Did any of you guys find that eye-strain was a major constraint on the amount of studying that you would have ideally liked to do?

Term time I average 3 hrs a day, including weekends and counting homework/course reading, and excluding classes. So about 21 hrs per week, excluding classes. Most classes, I'm blindly taking down notes that will have to be supplemented later because the lecturer didn't have time to explain every step. No studying on holidays of course (except Easter break before exams)

 

[nightdove]

I find that i actually learn more in the holidays than during school time. It has always been these breaks that I've made my, i like to view them as, breakthroughs. I taught myself calculus, logs, trig, you know the sort, all in the holidays. I've made tiny little improvements to these during semesters. To how much I do on average, per day, well in my desired field of mathematics, during school semesters its only about an hour a day, that's all the time i find for it. I'm not counting my schools math because I find it trivial and not actually studying. Holidays, maybe 4 or so? Only about 1 hour out of a textbook though, rest is just some reading on the internet, these forums etc.

Time spent in deep reflection during the holidays is only necessarily for harder courses, in my case.

For most 2nd year courses, you can learn a lot during the class teaching and while solving homework exercises, whereas for harder courses, you actually need to meditate (literally) on the theorems. For Multivariate Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability Distribution Theory, Statistical Inference and basically any applied math courses, homework can be finished in one sitting (2 hrs tops) and you don't need to spend 6-8 hrs thinking about a single problem.

For tougher courses like Real Analysis and Topology however, you can spend 10 hrs or more on a single homework exercise, and that doesn't even guarantee an 'A'. Real Analysis is where you discover how limited your intellect really is, no matter how much your high school teachers flattered you in the past concerning your 'genius'.

I found myself getting the gist on the subject only during the 'study leave' before the exams... after some 2-3 weeks of prolonged reflection on the basic theorems and definitions... after which all the insights came rushing down like a waterfall, with the result being a quantum leap in the ability to solve the problems. Before that, I didn't realize my understanding in Topology was very fragmented / partial, which is why I had problems proving the theorems.

Generally, I guess I'm more of an Applied Math and Engineering Physics sort of person, and tend to stay away from courses involving excessively rigorous or abstract reasoning far removed from the brain's capacity to visualise. In applied courses, practise makes perfect, and you don't have to be a monk to do well.

 

[nightdove]

Doing homework problems counts as studying.



Maybe after 7 consecutive hours your brain cannot work more? Perhaps after a 2-3 hour break, you could resume?



Of course, I am not counting vacations.


By the way, are the researchers doing the poll? I would be interested in how many hours the pros use working their brains (in doing their research and/or studying new topics)

I've tried studying for 8 hrs in a row (primarily for courses for which I slacked off during term time and didn't do any homework), but it inevitably follows the same pattern as Azael's, but more protracted:

9:00-11:00 study for 2 hrs (efficient)
11:00-11:15 break for 15 min
11:15-1:15 study for 2 hrs (efficient)
1:15-3:15 lunch + TV
3:15-5:15 study for 2 hrs (inefficient)
5:15-5:30 break for 15 min
5:30-7:30 study for 2 hrs (inefficient, not absorbing much)
7:30-11:30 feel like zombie & worry like crap about impending exam

I cannot maintain an 8 hr study-programme for more than 3 weeks however. I also find that if I study for too long, I can't sleep, despite being tired. So 4-6 hrs is my optimal period. No fatigue. No stress. Loads of play.

I suspect the people who can study for more than 8 hrs a day are either extremely fit physically, or have loads of GABA and dopamine in the brain to work with.

From what I've gathered, the reason why most people can't exceed 8 hrs a day studying (aside from pins-and-needles and eye strain), are neurochemical in nature:

Wrangling with problems that strain your working memory (math problems, engineering problems, physics problems) depletes dopamine, the end product of which is homovanillic acid. My guess is that a literature student who spends his whole day writing an artsy essay would not utilise half the working memory capacity of a physics student.

Studying depletes GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and after 8 hrs you probably won't have enough left to sleep or stave off nervous thoughts.

Denying yourself every day pleasures to focus on long-term goals also utilises dopamine.

 

[P3X-018]

9:00-11:00 study for 2 hrs (efficient)
11:00-11:15 break for 15 min
11:15-1:15 study for 2 hrs (efficient)
1:15-3:15 lunch + TV
3:15-5:15 study for 2 hrs (inefficient)
5:15-5:30 break for 15 min
5:30-7:30 study for 2 hrs (inefficient, not absorbing much)
7:30-11:30 feel like zombie & worry like crap about impending exam

I noticed that you get inefficient after watching TV. When watching TV and doing other stuff where you're not "using" your brain, is like relaxing. When you get that feeling it's really hard to get back to study and start concentrating.
Actually reading/absorbing information is quit different from applying the knowledge you have. I don't have any problems spending 8+ hours on projects, solving problem or similar stuff where you work through what you already know. But when it comes to reading where you'll have to absorb some new information, then I agree it's really hard to stay focused as long as 6-8 hours. Taking long breaks (like ½-1 hour) makes it only harder to resume reading. It's like when you're exercising, if you stop to take a long break, you'll find it extremely hard to resume the training.

When I study for so long, then when I go to bed and sleep that day, I won't know wether I'm sleeping or really just studying, my mind will be really mixed up, it's really "confusing"!

 

[hrc969]

umm, to the people who voted 15+, how do you manage to fit in sleep and food?

I study more than 15 hrs per day (counting classes). Actually I have to count right now to see how many.

Wake up - finish eating (6am-~7:30 am) no studying yet.
Take the bus to go to school (~7:34-~8:30am) I study while I'm on the bus so (1hr)
Study before class (8:30-10:00am) [2.5hr]
2 classes (10am-12pm) [4.5hr]
Lunh break (12-12:30pm)
Study before class (12:30-1pm) [5hr]
2 classes (1-3pm) [7hr]
go home on bus (3:09-~4:09) [8hr] I study while on the bus.
Eat and spend time with my family (~4:09-5:00)
Do homework/go over notes/study out of some math books (5:00pm-1:00am)[8hr]
Sleep (1:am-6:00am)

So I guess its about 16 hrs per day on MWF. Its about the same on tuesdays and thursdays except I don't have to spend any time preparing lunch between waking up and leaving for school. I'll just eat right before leaving and eat when I come back since those days I only have 3hrs at school and 1hr ar school respectively.

But yeah... sleeping is reduced (I tried to sleep about 8 hrs per day when I was on break) and eating is done when there is time. I als take sandwiches which I eat between classes. I eat some fruit while I am studying for the 8hr block. But it doesn't take anymore than 2 minutes or less from studying just to et my fruit and wash it.

 

[P3X-018]

How can you study so much when you only get 5 hours sleep?! Don't you get sleepy while reading?
When reading about new subjects I can't stay awake if I haven't got enough sleep, how do you manage?

 

[hrc969]

How can you study so much when you only get 5 hours sleep?! Don't you get sleepy while reading?
When reading about new subjects I can't stay awake if I haven't got enough sleep, how do you manage?

I'm not really sure to tell you the truth. Sometimes its hard for me to believe that I am able to do some of the things I have done. For example, one quarter I took 6 classes (including 3 upper division math classes two of which were honors classes, 2 programming classes and a linguistic course) it was a total of 28 units. I had 6 finals 1 on sunday before finals week and then 1 everyday until thursday of finals week in which I had 2 finals. My grades for the quarter were 5 As, 1 A+. I probably won't be repeating that again although even I am not taking 6 classes and not as many units (I am currently taking 5 classes, 20 units) I think its harder now.

As for the sleep thing, maybe I got used to not sleeping so much during my high school years I used to sleep about 5 hours as well. Pretty much a full schedule too but with more slacking off than now. But I use to train(running) alot. I used to train twice a day (at 6am and then in the evening, I lived about 12 miles from my school so I had to leave my house before 5am sometimes) pretty much every day. I don't really get tired now compared to back when I was in high school.

About reading I guess after thinking about it it seems that I read the stuff that I know definitely interests me whenever I have time (i.e., I have nothing else I need to study) and definitely at night. I get all the stuff which I know I have to study but I am not specifically interested in out of the way first and leave the stuff I definitely want to learn and know that will motivate me to stay active and not bored and sleepy for the end of the day. Then I review in the morning on my way to school.

 

[andytoh]

I do not let the day's duties rob me of my precious studying time. I can easily study math while I'm driving, in the middle of business meetings, stuck in an office party, stuck in a movie theater, waiting around with no book on me, etc...

It's easy: Just choose a theorem that you have already learned before, and try to prove it in your mind. If you can't do it, choose an easier theorem. Once you've proven it in your mind, choose another theorem. This serves as great review while you practise your proving skills. And no one knows what you are doing.

The only time this doesn't work is when someone has the nerves to start a conversation with you.

 

[Bitter]

I like to have balance between study and having a life. I study on average four hours a day, and more as the material becomes tougher, but I could never be the person would sits around and studies while doing other activities. Once I decide I need to do something else, like shower, I do not work math problems in my head. I relax and shower. If I'm at a social event, I do not try to solve a SOP in my head, I enjoy the event. I find these small breaks, rather, reentrance into reality, keep me from become overburden and less stress than some of my peers.

 

[nsimmons]

Putting in ~50 hours per week at the office, plus 5 courses, nets me about 2 hours a day to study. Sleep hovers around 5-6 hours. Try to put in 6-7 hrs on the weekends but that's about all i can absorb.

 

[andytoh]

I like to have balance between study and having a life. I study on average four hours a day, and more as the material becomes tougher, but I could never be the person would sits around and studies while doing other activities. Once I decide I need to do something else, like shower, I do not work math problems in my head. I relax and shower. If I'm at a social event, I do not try to solve a SOP in my head, I enjoy the event. I find these small breaks, rather, reentrance into reality, keep me from become overburden and less stress than some of my peers.

Of course I was referring to occasions where you are stuck somewhere that you don't want to be (e.g. a useless business meeting, watching a movie that you realize you don't like). In those situations, I start proving theorems in my mind. If I'm at a social event that I actually enjoy, then those theorems will wait.

 

[proton]

I study about 10 hours a day, get slightly over 7 hours of sleep, and spend about 2 hours a day surfing through physics forums. If you don't count the time lost from studying from daydreaming, losing focus, etc, I guess I get about 8-9 hours of studying a day.

 

[americanforest]

nine or ten hours a day as a Sophmore Physics major taking 4 honors upper level Math classes. It's intense.

 

[radou]

Going through the posts of this thread, I see I'm not the only one who would ask if the numbers in your poll can be thought of as minutes too?

 

[J77]

I'm never was one for studying for long periods.

I think taking as much time out of studying, preferably more, to play sports or go out with friends makes one a much better student.

 

[FUNKER]

How much do you do when its exam time?

I try for 8hrs

 

[alba_ei]

If you study a lot youre going to be better

 

[Plastic Photon]

3 hours between classes 4 days, 1 hour between classes monday and wednesday and 4 hours at home, 4 hours friday sat and sun.

42 per week studying, 25% percent of the week, though I estimate my learning effeciency is about 70% of the time I study and 20% when I am not.

 

[trickae]

around 5 hrs a day on weekdays
full day 9-12; 1-6 on weekends

not having a social life/ not having family/friends time or having hobbies is a small sacrifice for double majoring in Comp E and EE.

Edit : that's excluding classes

 

[DougF]

I voted 3-4 hours a day

no school at this time just trying to expand my horizons.

and no studying on the weekend

 

[Gauged]

It only takes me about 0-2 hours to thoroughly understand the material, usually.

 

[torquerotates]

About 4-5hrs a day when I'm taking a full sciencecourse load. But during the quarters when I'm taking on GE courses, I study maybe 15-20hrs for the whole quarter.

 

[zhentil]

0-0.5 per day in undergrad, 3-4 in grad school.

 

[godemiche]

Math undergrad, around 2-3 hours daily...

You guys studying 7+ hours a day, how much coffee is involved with that? I would go insane..

 

[dx]

15+ hours a day? really?...

 

[fluidistic]

For me it depends if I have classes or not in a day. If I have classes, it's 4 hours of intense comprehension and 2 hours of doing exercises, plus maybe an hour of study at home. Days at home are inconstantly, I can study 3 hours during a day and then the next day almost nothing (but I almost read over the Internet about maths and physics everyday). A week before a small exam I study maybe 4 or 5 hours by day.
The average is hard to calculate. I voted 3-4 hours a day.