Not sure about the number of hours a day you should study? You're not alone. There are millions out there who are puzzled by this question.

About 90% of students ask this question every year. Well, I have thought long and hard about this question and finally, I am here with the following conclusion. Don't think about the time, focus on the quality of the study rather than its quantity.

Everyone's capacity, grasping power and pace differs. The primary step to knowing the number of hours you need to study is to identify your learning style.

'Don't sleep when you are tired, sleep when you are done!'

Do you know? There are 4 different categories of learning styles known as VARK.

  1. Visual: Visual learners relate best to visual information like videos and graphics. They can retain visual information for a longer duration.
  2. Auditory: Auditory learners best understand new content through listening and speaking in situations such as lectures and group discussions.
  3. Reading and writing: Students with strong reading and writing preferences learn best through words. These students might present themselves as avid readers and are able to translate other forms of learning into words or essays.
  4. Kinaesthetic learners: These are practical learners who understand well by performing the task themselves. For example: If one advises this learner to avoid getting his finger burnt in the fire, he will burn his finger to check if it is true.

So, What about you? In which category do you fall? Knowing your category is very important to study efficiently and effectively. Because if you know what kind of learner you are, then it is easy to define the number of hours you should study. Let me tell you the ideal number of hours.

The ideal time for an Std 10 student:

The number of hours for studying also depends on your grade and subject. So, you may want the exact number of hours. Say, 2, 3, 4 or 5?  If you are a 10th-grade student, the ideal time suggested is 4 hours. But note it may vary depending on your learning style. Let me share an example with you:

Last year while I was preparing for practical exams I overheard my friend saying:

I have flipped all the pages and that's all. I am ready to ace the test.

And that was so shocking! I had spent an entire day learning. I wanted to ask her 'How did she do that?' And one fine day, after a long introspection I realized that she was extremely good at grasping concepts and did not over-study anything.

We usually sit to study immediately after school without knowing the fact that sometimes - 'It leads us nowhere.'

It's scary to study for 4 hours after school. Here's why?

Don't be a bookworm. Be Smart and Study Smart. Over-studying gives you nothing but poor results. The thought of 4 hours of studying is simply overwhelming for a fatigue brained who has spent 6-7 hours at school.

Consider that after school your frazzled brain is thinking:

Do you want me to study for another 4 hours on top of that? You are dreaming, it's impossible!

With a fixed 4 hours of study rule, you run the risk of brain damage. So prepare your own guidelines, and follow it. We need to take breaks. 4 hours of studying doesn't mean studying continuously. If you study at a stretch you would remember nothing. The explanation is provided in the below-shown Dale's cone of learning. 

The cone of learning:

However, to understand 90% of what we say or do we need proper planning.

Draw a study schedule and plan yourself:

You have 1440 minutes a day and every minute counts.

Proper planning makes you an expert in a topic or subject. Divide your time. Follow it strictly. Allot time for relaxation. You cannot study for more than an hour without a break. So do take 5-10 minutes break after an hour.

What to do during breaks?

Use your mobile phones, listen to music, go out to play, chit-chat with friends and so on.
Yes! You have heard it right.

Music is a medicine to the mind. Listening to songs helps to relax and refresh your mind. You will be re-charged to study at the same pace and chit-chatting with your friends makes you feel good. I am not advising this to be done while you are studying but while you relax. 'Enjoy the fineries of life but not at the cost of your career.'

Go out and exercise:

Exercise instils productivity in you. You will be able to give your best out-puts. It will improve your mental health and mood. Exercise also helps you constantly learn and think positively. It makes your judgement skills as sharp as your age.

To sum up:

  • Engage in quality study rather than quantity study. This will save you time, make you feel less stressed and gain control of your mind.
  • Find time for relaxation. You can leave an evening off every 3 days.
  • Exercise to get the best output.
  • Take a moment to think about your learning style. Many of us are a mixed version of all the learning styles.
  • Feel free to post below 'your plan and the number of hours you study.'

If you think there's more to contribute, I would like to hear from you.