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Here’s the Best Study Routine (Day & Night with Sample Schedule)

Let’s face it: your search history is probably filled with queries like “best study techniques” or “how to focus better.” Most of what you find is either too generic or not tailored to your learning style. We’re here to offer something more substantial — a scientifically-backed guide to crafting the best study routine. Let’s dive in!

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Table of Contents

How to Make a Study Routine

• Sample Study Routines (Day & Night)

Best Techniques for Your Study Routine

Creating an effective study routine isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Here’s a breakdown to help you tailor a study routine to your unique schedule and academic needs.

• Evaluate your schedule: Before building your study routine, closely examine your daily schedule and commitments. When do your classes start and end? Do you have any extracurricular activities? Do you have to work after class? By understanding your daily schedule, you can create a more personalized study routine.
• Set realistic goals: Have you ever told yourself that you’d finish reading 10 chapters of your textbook in a single all-nighter? You’re not alone in falling into this lie countless times. That’s why breaking down larger academic goals into smaller, achievable tasks is a must. You need to be able to set specific and realistic goals for each study session.
• Plan study blocks: After being honest with yourself about your goals, decide how many hours a day you would dedicate to studying. It could be as short or as long as you want — as long as you guarantee that you can maximize your study time. The quality of your learning is more important than the quantity or amount of hours you put into studying!
• Create a distraction-free environment: Spending 10 hours studying is useless if it’s broken up scrolling through social media. Because of this, it is important to minimize distractions during your study sessions. You can do this by finding a quiet, clutter-free space where you can concentrate fully. Turn off your phone and use website blockers like Cold Turkey to maximize productivity.
• Organize your study materials : A well-organized set of resources can save you time and stress. Check out our post on the best Notion templates for students for some inspiration.
• Prioritize sleep and schedule: Studying is important, but so is your physical health! Your cognitive abilities are directly linked to your wellbeing. Make sure you get enough sleep and fit in some physical activity to keep your mind sharp.
• Stay consistent: If you start committing to your planned study schedule as much as possible, it’ll eventually become second nature and make it quicker to dive into a state of deep focus every time.
• Be flexible: Life happens, and things don’t always go as planned — and that’s okay! It just means that your routine might need adjustments from time to time. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and learn to adapt to changes in your schedule. If you accidentally missed a study session, relax and just pick up where you left off.

Sample Study Routines to Follow

Morning & afternoon study routine.

If you’re an early riser who enjoys soaking up the morning sun, a daytime study routine is perfect for you. Studying in the morning has the added advantage of being in line with our natural body clock since alertness is at its peak in the morning and early afternoon.

Here’s a sample schedule that you can follow:

• 5:30 AM – 6:15 AM: Rise and shine! Kick-start your day with a healthy breakfast. You can also try to engage in a short meditation or stretching session to feel more awake.
• 6:15 AM – 6:30 AM: Grab a pen and paper or your digital notepad so that you can set your study goals for the day and specific tasks you need to accomplish.
• 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM: Time to exercise! You can do any form of physical activity, from light cardio (like walking) to lifting weights in the gym.
• 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM: First study block (or attend your classes). Start your timer: 25-minute study with a 5-minute break, repeat 4x, then a long break — or use a timer that automatically does it for you .
• 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Take an extended break. Stretch, grab a snack, and breathe some fresh air. Look away from your screen to minimize eye strain.
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Second study block (or attend your classes). Start your timer and finish another full Pomodoro session (25-minute study with a 5-minute break, repeat 4x, then a long break).
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break! This is the perfect time to refuel your body with nourishing food and prep for your afternoon study session.
• 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM : Third study block (or attend your classes). Don’t forget to use techniques like active recall and mind mapping (more on that below) to reinforce the concepts you learned in the morning.
• 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Time for another extended break. Why not walk to a nearby café for a change of scenery, or go to a virtual café ?
• 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Final study block (or attend your classes). Use this final session to consolidate your learning and list areas requiring further attention.
• 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Free time! Reward yourself by unwinding and relaxing after a productive day. Pursue your hobbies, spend time with friends and family, or watch a movie .
• 9:30 PM – 5:30 AM: Get a good night’s rest to feel fully recharged the next day!

Nighttime Study Routine

Not everyone is made for a daytime study routine. You might just feel more productive at night, or maybe you’ve got daytime commitments like a job or other extracurricular activities. If you’re a night owl and not an early riser, give this sample nighttime study routine a whirl:

• 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Boost your energy with a late-day workout. This will help set your mood for your upcoming study session.
• 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Grab a pen and paper or your digital notepad to set your study goals for the night and specific tasks you need to accomplish.
• 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM: First study block. Start your timer and finish a full Pomodoro session (25-minute study with a 5-minute break, repeat 4x, then a long break). Try starting with lighter subjects first to ease yourself into the night.
• 8:15 PM – 9:00 PM: Dinner time! Have a nutritious meal to fuel yourself for the long night ahead.
• 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Second study block. Start your timer and finish another full Pomodoro session.
• 11:00 PM – 11:30 PM: Take an extended break. You can even take a power nap if you want to. Just make sure to set an alarm to avoid oversleeping!
• 11:30 PM – 1:30 AM: Third study block. Start your timer and finish another full Pomodoro session. Try switching to a different subject to keep things interesting!
• 1:30 AM – 2:00 AM: Relax and recharge for a while. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and have a light snack if you want to.
• 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM: Final study block. Review the material you studied during the whole night. Why not try to use the Feynman technique to test your learning? (check it out below)
• 4:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Go to bed and make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Make sure to turn off your devices and create a relaxing bedtime routine.
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Time to wake up! Sustain your body’s needs by eating your first meal of the day.
• 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Free time! Ideally, you should engage in activities to help unwind and clear your mind. You should also eat your second meal of the day during this period.

With a general framework in place and some sample routines to try, let’s explore some scientifically-backed techniques to enhance your study routine.

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time-tested and community favorite strategy that breaks your study time into 25 minute intervals, followed by short breaks. It helps your brain stay focused and reduces fatigue.

Luckily, you can use dedicated free Pomodoro-focused tools like Flocus to automatically switch between study and break periods instead of winding up a manual timer for each interval.

Don’t know what to do during your study breaks? Here are some Pomodoro break ideas . Also, if you think that the Pomodoro technique isn’t for you, we’ve rounded up some of the best Pomodoro alternatives to try.

Active Recall

Active recall beats passive learning hands down. Instead of simply reading through material, this method challenges you to recall information from memory. In fact, passive learning is considered one of the least effective study methods. Active recall may be challenging to get used to at first, but the amount of retained information you’ll get will make the process worth it! When it comes to active recall, nothing beats the use of flashcards — whether handwritten or created using digital apps such as Anki .

Mind Mapping

If you are visual person, then this strategy is perfect for you. Mind mapping is a visual technique that helps you organize and understand complex information. Basically, it’s creating a map of your thoughts! Start with a central idea and then let it branch out by adding related subtopics and ideas. Feel free to add colors and images to make it even more memorable and effective. Just the process of creating the mind map itself already helps you solidify your understanding of the topic.

Feynman Technique

This technique, inspired by the learning approach of renowned physicist Richard Feynman, involves breaking down complex ideas into simpler terms — as if you’re teaching a concept to a total beginner. While doing this, you’ll probably identify gaps in your knowledge and better understand the topic. Generally, if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Ultimately, the best study routine is the one that fits your unique lifestyle. Experiment with different schedules and see what works best for you. Whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, consistency and dedication are the keys to academic success. Take time to craft your best study routine, and you’ll be acing your exams in no time!

What is the best study routine and schedule for you? Any other study techniques you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Gridfiti is supported by its audience – when you buy something using the retail links in our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Read more  about our affiliate disclaimer.

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Tips for Successful Late Night Studying

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What is your best study time ? Do you feel most like studying in the wee hours of the night? If so, you are not alone. But that can be a problem for parents and school officials.

While some students like to get up early in the morning and study, most will say that late night studying is most productive. When it comes to brain power, students will say they perform better at night--and the fact that parents might find surprising and interesting is that science seems to agree.

That can be a problem. School starts early in the morning for most students, so the benefits of studying at night can be eliminated by the drowsiness of missing sleep! Science also shows that the amount of sleep you get will affect your academic performance .

Here Are a Few Tips for Maximizing Study Time

• Figure out if you are a morning person or a night person. You might surprise yourself. Try getting up early to study and see if it works out.
• Have a talk with parents to tell them that teen brains do perform better at night, so you won’t have to deal with miscommunication. Show them the science. You might be able to come up with a solution.
• Agree on an absolute “start time” for studying if you need to study late. Turn off the TV! Your brain should be just fine at six or seven o’clock. You don’t need to start after dark.
• Agree on a solid deadline for closing books and getting to sleep.
• Don't waste time on texts , games, and social media . You can do all of that early evening and get serious later in the evening if you're a night owl.
• Upon occasion, you may be able to go to school a little late if you have to study for an afternoon test. As long as you are communicating with your parents, and as long as the tardiness doesn't hurt your grades, you may be able to work this out.

Improved Academic Success. ScienceDaily . Retrieved November 7, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2009/06/090610091232.htm

Teens. ScienceDaily . Retrieved November 7, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2007/05/070520130046.htm

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Day vs night: when is the best time to study and why?

**This is an updated post**

You’re either an early bird or a night owl. But when it comes to learning, when is the best time to study? Is it better to study at night or in the morning? And what does science have to say about it?

Our bodies’ cycles of alertness and focus are governed by Circadian rhythms. They are what forms our 24-hour sleep/wake cycle that then drives when we are hungry, when we are tired and even when we undertake activities such as work and study.

But that’s just the beginning of the story. There are a whole bunch of lifestyle factors that influence when the best study time is for each individual person.

The truth is, there is no definitive “best” time to study, as every person is different. But there are benefits to studying during the day or night.

The benefits of studying during the day

It’s not hard to argue that studying during the day is a smart choice. After all, we’re usually refreshed in the morning after a good night’s sleep.

During the day you are less likely to require indoor lighting. Sunlight is actually good for your eyes. It provides just the right spectrum of light to maintain optimal eyesight and actually works with the pituitary gland to make you alert and awake. True fact!

Indoor lighting has actually been shown to interrupt the sleep cycle and most sleep doctors recommend that you expose yourself to as little artificial light at night as possible at night, including TV, computer and smartphone screens. This is why some devices now include a “blue light filter” which limits the amount of blue light displayed on the screen.

Positives of studying during the day:

• Natural light can help you focus, as opposed to artificial light.
• Your natural Circadian rhythms will be at work.
• You’ll be refreshed and alert, meaning you’ll be able to retain information better.

Tips for studying during the day:

• Find a space to study (inside or outside) that gives you plenty of natural light to see by.
• Eliminate possible distractions – does listening to music help you focus and block out distracting noises, like traffic sounds, or your loud neighbours?
• Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day, contrary to popular belief. But a healthy breakfast (think   brain foods   like avocados, blueberries and whole grains) will help improve your levels of   concentration .

The benefits of studying at night

“But wait! I’m a night owl!” we hear you cry. Or perhaps you work a 9-to-5 job, or are looking after young children during the day and can only study after they’ve fallen asleep at night.

If night-time is when you feel like you are most productive, or when you have time to study, then don’t panic. Just as there are plenty of positives for studying during the day, there are various reasons why night-time is the best time to study for some.

The most obvious advantage of studying at night is the abundance of peace and quiet you have. Night-time is when people are more relaxed, quiet and contemplative. That environment can be exactly what some people need to get into the right headspace for study.

If you find that you can’t get a breakthrough on a project during the day, try taking a look after dark. You might find that you’re looking at things in a new way.

At night, the pressures of the daytime behind them, many feel that their mind is free to wander through more alternatives at night. And this can be useful for assessment-writing or working on creative pursuits.

Many authors, songwriters and scientists prefer to work at night because they feel that they tend to think more creatively after-hours. This is backed up by a   study   completed at the University of the Sacred Heart in Milan which showed that night owls were more likely to be creative than early birds.

Barack Obama   himself is a self-confessed night owl.

Positives of studying during the evening:

• Peace and quiet – less distractions so you can knuckle down.
• Your daily tasks are done, so you can concentrate on your work.
• Night-time is when people tend to feel more creative.

Tips for studying at night:

• Limit possible distractions – turn your phone on silent and leave the TV off.
• Try to avoid caffeine, as it can take up to four hours to cycle through the body. It might give you a spike of energy, but it could prevent you from having a good night’s sleep.
• Create a   routine   that still gives you enough time for a good night’s rest.

What does the science say?

While Circadian rhythms are different for everyone, there are patterns that indicate that people really do fit into the “early bird” or the “night owl” categories.

The typical morning person will find that they are rearing to go as early as 7am. That burst of energy will last until around 10am when they need a little rest. Maybe this is when they take a coffee break and stretch their legs. Then they will get another burst of energy until around 3pm when they start to wind down.

The “night owl” tends to be the complete opposite. They will be sluggish until around midday when they have their first burst of energy. This will last until 3pm when they will have their second burst that will last until 7pm. From there, they will start winding down around 10pm and go quickly from activity to sleep.

So, when is it best to study?

It all depends on your lifestyle. Younger people with a routine that sees them more active at night will find that studying at night comes more naturally to them. If you’re an adult and re-entering study after a long time away, you might find that daytime is better suited  to your established routine.

The important factor for everyone is making sure you are getting enough sleep. So whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, there’s nothing stopping you from taking on study in your own time and at your own pace right now.

Have you thought about taking up online study?

Whether you’re a morning or a night person,  Open Colleges’  flexible online study means that you can study when you want, where you want. There are no deadlines and no classrooms, so you can fit study around your life.  Learn more here.

Not quite ready to take the plunge and enrol? No problem. Why not dip your toe in the water with a  7-day free course trial?   You can experience our world-class learning platform and get a feel for online study. With no obligations and no payment details required, it’s the perfect way to test the waters and maybe start a brand new, exciting career!

By Open Colleges

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How to Do Homework: 15 Expert Tips and Tricks

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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Enter your email to unlock an extra $25 off an sat or act program, by submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 8 easy ways to finish your homework faster.

How many times have you found yourself still staring at your textbook around midnight (or later!) even when you started your homework hours earlier? Those lost hours could be explained by Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself all night to memorize those geometry formulas for your quiz tomorrow, you’ll inevitably find that a 30 minute task has somehow filled your entire evening.

We know that you have more homework than ever. But even with lots and lots to do, a few tweaks to your study routine could help you spend less time getting more accomplished. Here are 8 steps to make Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:

1. Make a list

This should be a list of everything that has to be done that evening. And we mean, everything—from re-reading notes from this morning’s history class to quizzing yourself on Spanish vocabulary.

2. Estimate the time needed for each item on your list

You can be a little ruthless here. However long you think a task will take, try shaving off 5 or 10 minutes. But, be realistic. You won’t magically become a speed reader.

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3. Gather all your gear

Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework.

The constant blings and beeps from your devices can make it impossible to focus on what you are working on. Switch off or silence your phones and tablets, or leave them in another room until it’s time to take a tech break.

Read More: How to Calculate Your GPA

5. Time yourself

Noting how much time something actually takes will help you estimate better and plan your next study session.

6. Stay on task

If you’re fact checking online, it can be so easy to surf on over to a completely unrelated site. A better strategy is to note what information you need to find online, and do it all at once at the end of the study session.

7. Take plenty of breaks

Most of us need a break between subjects or to break up long stretches of studying. Active breaks are a great way to keep your energy up. Tech breaks can be an awesome way to combat the fear of missing out that might strike while you are buried in your work, but they also tend to stretch much longer than originally intended. Stick to a break schedule of 10 minutes or so.

8. Reward yourself! 

Finish early? If you had allocated 30 minutes for reading a biology chapter and it only took 20, you can apply those extra 10 minutes to a short break—or just move on to your next task. If you stay on track, you might breeze through your work quickly enough to catch up on some Netflix.

Our best piece of advice? Keep at it. The more you use this system, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time you can shave off homework just by focusing and committing to a distraction-free study plan.

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How to Do Homework in the Morning

Last Updated: June 28, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Jennifer Kaifesh and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain . Jennifer Kaifesh is the Founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a tutoring and counseling service based in Southern California. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating academic tutoring and standardized test prep as it relates to the college application process. She takes a personal approach to her tutoring, and focuses on working with students to find their specific mix of pursuits that they both enjoy and excel at. She is a graduate of Northwestern University. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 144,976 times.

If you want to get some homework done in the morning, that's awesome! Just make sure you get everything ready the night before so you can get right to work in the morning. We've created a list to help you do just that! We'll start by walking you through some ways to prepare the night before and then share a few pointers to help you have a stress-free morning.

Figure out how much time you'll need in the morning.

• Don't forget to leave plenty of time for eating breakfast and getting ready!

Leave your homework out so it's ready to go.

• If you think you might need stuff like a dictionary, graph paper, or a ruler, go ahead and grab it now. [3] X Trustworthy Source Child Mind Institute Nonprofit organization providing evidence-based care for children with mental health and learning disorders and their families Go to source

Pack your lunch and set out your clothes at night.

Set your alarm to wake you up in the morning.

• If you have a family member who wakes up early, ask them to make sure you’re awake in the morning and to wake you up immediately if you’re still snoozing.

Go to bed at a sensible hour so you won't be tired.

• Put your phone on a sleep timer if your friends have a habit of calling or texting you late into the night.

Sit at a desk or table to finish your homework in the morning.

• If your bed is starting to look a little too appealing as you’re working at your desk, get up and go work at the kitchen table, just in case!

Do logic-based homework first.

Get up and move around if you start to feel sleepy.

• Be careful not to get distracted! Limit your break to 1-2 minutes.

Leave enough time to get to school before the first bell.

Give yourself more than a day for tough assignments.

• If you're procrastinating because you don't understand the assignment, don't be afraid to ask your teacher to clarify! Ask for clear instructions and examples so you can get started. [13] X Trustworthy Source Edutopia Educational nonprofit organization focused on encouraging and celebrating classroom innovation Go to source

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• ↑ https://www.startupwisconsin.org/tricky-tips-on-how-to-do-homework-early-in-the-morning.htm
• ↑ https://ofy.org/blog/homework-hacks-8-tips-get-done-faster/
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/school-mornings-without-the-stress/
• ↑ https://www.fastcompany.com/3041455/8-tricks-to-make-yourself-wake-up-earlier
• ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/healthy-sleep-habits-how-many-hours-does-your-child-need.aspx
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-sleep-deprived/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/organize-focus.html
• ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/04/12/maths-classes-should-taught-morning-improve-attainment-study/
• ↑ https://www.chkd.org/patients-and-families/health-library/quick-tips/homework-procrastination/
• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-reasons-students-procrastinate-and-how-help-them-stop

About this article

If you want to do your homework in the morning, prepare the night before by setting out your homework on your desk so you don't waste time the next day. Then, set your alarm so you wake up with enough time to complete your assignments, have breakfast, and get to school. When you wake up in the morning, do stretches to make you feel more alert and drink a glass of cold water to release adrenaline. Finally, sit at a desk or table to do your assignments to help you stay focused. To learn why you should complete logic-based homework first, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

Decades of research show that homework has some benefits, especially for students in middle and high school—but there are risks to assigning too much.

Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less.

The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “ 10-minute homework guideline ”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. But many teachers and parents are quick to point out that what matters is the quality of the homework assigned and how well it meets students’ needs, not the amount of time spent on it.

The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. In class, teachers can make adjustments to support struggling students, but at home, an assignment that takes one student 30 minutes to complete may take another twice as much time—often for reasons beyond their control. And homework can widen the achievement gap, putting students from low-income households and students with learning disabilities at a disadvantage.

However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider.

Small Benefits for Elementary Students

As young children begin school, the focus should be on cultivating a love of learning, and assigning too much homework can undermine that goal. And young students often don’t have the study skills to benefit fully from homework, so it may be a poor use of time (Cooper, 1989 ; Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). A more effective activity may be nightly reading, especially if parents are involved. The benefits of reading are clear: If students aren’t proficient readers by the end of third grade, they’re less likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school (Fiester, 2013 ).

For second-grade teacher Jacqueline Fiorentino, the minor benefits of homework did not outweigh the potential drawback of turning young children against school at an early age, so she experimented with dropping mandatory homework. “Something surprising happened: They started doing more work at home,” Fiorentino writes . “This inspiring group of 8-year-olds used their newfound free time to explore subjects and topics of interest to them.” She encouraged her students to read at home and offered optional homework to extend classroom lessons and help them review material.

Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students

As students mature and develop the study skills necessary to delve deeply into a topic—and to retain what they learn—they also benefit more from homework. Nightly assignments can help prepare them for scholarly work, and research shows that homework can have moderate benefits for middle school students (Cooper et al., 2006 ). Recent research also shows that online math homework, which can be designed to adapt to students’ levels of understanding, can significantly boost test scores (Roschelle et al., 2016 ).

There are risks to assigning too much, however: A 2015 study found that when middle school students were assigned more than 90 to 100 minutes of daily homework, their math and science test scores began to decline (Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez, & Muñiz, 2015 ). Crossing that upper limit can drain student motivation and focus. The researchers recommend that “homework should present a certain level of challenge or difficulty, without being so challenging that it discourages effort.” Teachers should avoid low-effort, repetitive assignments, and assign homework “with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-directed learning.”

In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity. Brian Sztabnik, a veteran middle and high school English teacher, suggests that teachers take a step back and ask themselves these five questions :

• How long will it take to complete?
• Have all learners been considered?
• Will an assignment encourage future success?
• Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?
• Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?

More Benefits for High School Students, but Risks as Well

By the time they reach high school, students should be well on their way to becoming independent learners, so homework does provide a boost to learning at this age, as long as it isn’t overwhelming (Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). When students spend too much time on homework—more than two hours each night—it takes up valuable time to rest and spend time with family and friends. A 2013 study found that high school students can experience serious mental and physical health problems, from higher stress levels to sleep deprivation, when assigned too much homework (Galloway, Conner, & Pope, 2013 ).

Homework in high school should always relate to the lesson and be doable without any assistance, and feedback should be clear and explicit.

Teachers should also keep in mind that not all students have equal opportunities to finish their homework at home, so incomplete homework may not be a true reflection of their learning—it may be more a result of issues they face outside of school. They may be hindered by issues such as lack of a quiet space at home, resources such as a computer or broadband connectivity, or parental support (OECD, 2014 ). In such cases, giving low homework scores may be unfair.

Since the quantities of time discussed here are totals, teachers in middle and high school should be aware of how much homework other teachers are assigning. It may seem reasonable to assign 30 minutes of daily homework, but across six subjects, that’s three hours—far above a reasonable amount even for a high school senior. Psychologist Maurice Elias sees this as a common mistake: Individual teachers create homework policies that in aggregate can overwhelm students. He suggests that teachers work together to develop a school-wide homework policy and make it a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year.

Parents Play a Key Role

Homework can be a powerful tool to help parents become more involved in their child’s learning (Walker et al., 2004 ). It can provide insights into a child’s strengths and interests, and can also encourage conversations about a child’s life at school. If a parent has positive attitudes toward homework, their children are more likely to share those same values, promoting academic success.

But it’s also possible for parents to be overbearing, putting too much emphasis on test scores or grades, which can be disruptive for children (Madjar, Shklar, & Moshe, 2015 ). Parents should avoid being overly intrusive or controlling—students report feeling less motivated to learn when they don’t have enough space and autonomy to do their homework (Orkin, May, & Wolf, 2017 ; Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 ; Silinskas & Kikas, 2017 ). So while homework can encourage parents to be more involved with their kids, it’s important to not make it a source of conflict.

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At Night or In the Night?

Why do we refer to morning, afternoon and evening as 'in the morning', 'in the afternoon', 'in the evening' but not 'in the night' instead we say 'at night.'

• prepositions

• 10 You can say "in the night" (meaning "during the night"), I think more usually referring to the past: Did you hear that dog barking in the night? At other times, you use "at" for a 'specific' time ( at midday; at 3 o'clock; at sunrise ), and "in" for a period of time. –  TrevorD Commented Aug 7, 2013 at 23:17
• 1 @TrevorD Counterexample to the idea of referring to the past: speaking of things that go "bump" in the night. –  MetaEd Commented Aug 8, 2013 at 4:46
• 1 In the night and at night do not mean quite the same thing. –  Kris Commented Aug 8, 2013 at 7:00
• "The curious case of the dog in the night[time]" –  DJClayworth Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 3:20
• 2 You may use your answer to correct the OP's statements, but please do not edit the question to change the OP's premise. –  Kit Z. Fox ♦ Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 13:34

8 Answers 8

The bottom line is "it's idiomatic" as mentioned but I can offer the below rationale:

1. The origin of "at night" to indicate a point of time and the usage of prepositions "in" and"at"

In olden times, when the time expression "at night" was originated, night might have been thought as a point of time in the day because there wasn't any activity going on and people were sleeping that time unlike daytime. It represents the dark hours and the late time of the day. But morning, afternoon and evening represent a period of time during the daytime where activities were going on.

In fact, night is a period like morning . This is the main reason of the question because the preposition in is used for time periods. Then, the question can be easily changed to "why not at morning but in the morning " because it seems like times within the day generally take at ( at noon, at 5:00, at dawn, at dinner, at night ), except the ones that take in with the definite article the ( in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon ).

Speaking exceptions, one grammar book says the below for at under the title "exceptions: at, on and by ":

At can be used for periods identified vaguely, as in a t that time, at breakfast time, at night ; also for short holiday periods ( at Christmas, at Easter ). In BrE, at the weekend is used, but in AmE on the weekend . A Communicative Grammar of English By Geoffrey Leech, Jan Svartvik

In the end, at and in share a long history for the usages that we talk about and it is mentioned as below in OED (including the earliest example and some relevant examples):

at, prep. IV. Of time, order, occasion, cause, object. 29. Introducing the time at which an event happens: a. with the time named. c1230 (▸?a1200)   Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 28 Ed al le þe oþre tiden. 1586    T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xviii. 114 From 3. at after noone till nine at night. a1616    Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. iii. 32 At the sixt houre of Morne, at Noone, at Midnight. in, prep. III. Of time. 18. a. Within the limits of a period or space of time. With in the day, in the night : cf. by day, by night at by prep. 19b. a900    Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 709 In foreweardum Danieles dagum. 13..    K. Alis. 85 By cler candel, in the nyght. a1616    Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 178 Except I be by Siluia in the night ..Vnlesse I looke on Siluia in the day .

2. Chaucer's influence on English and vernacular literature

One of the earliest usages of "at night" is from Chaucer 's works. However, there is one earlier usage listed in OED . The following are the definition of at night and earliest examples from OED :

at night: at nightfall, in the evening or night; during the hours of darkness. Freq. designating a specified time. c1300    St. Theophilus (Laud) 161 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 293 (MED) , Þis cas bi-feol in leinte on a satures-day at niȝt . ▸c1387–95    Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 23 At nyght was come..Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye.

It seems like Chaucer might have a big role for the common usage of this idiomatic expression and the usage of this expression has been continued by other influential people like Shakespeare (example from OED ):

a1616    Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. i. 43 Let euery man be master of his time Till seuen at Night .

Additionally, the expression in the night has a long history as well and OED lists as below: (including the earliest example and some relevant examples)

b. in (also †of, †on, †upon) the night : by night, during the night. OE    Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) xii. 12 Ic fare on ðære nihte ofer eall Egypta land. a1400 (▸a1325)    Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6196 Drightin self þam ledd þair wai... Wit firen piler on þe night [c1460 Laud vpon the nyȝt ]. c1480 (▸a1400)    St. Theodora 288 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896)   II. 107 To þat thing has he na sycht þat thocht or don is in þe nycht . 1600    Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 253 There sleepes Tytania, sometime of the night . 1990    N.Y. Mag. 30 Apr. 52/1 A dog howling in the night .

On the other hand, there are instances of at morning, at evening and at afternoon but they are uncommon and literary mainly. (See: Ngram result )

OED mentions the below adverbial phrases with modifying preposition (without article) for morning :

at (also †in, †on, before, till, etc.) morning , from morning till evening, from morning to night, etc. Also with adjective, as all (also each, every, next, etc.) morning. Cf. a-morning adv.

There are examples with at morning and at evening and the earliest usage mentioned is in morning . The below are first three earliest usages and some relevant examples from OED :

a1400 (▸a1325)    Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7181 On nighter-tale, or in morning. c1400 (▸?a1387)    Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xiv. 147 (MED), Maules drowen hem to maules on morwenynge by hem-self, And femeles to femeles. c1475 (▸a1449)    Lydgate Testament (Harl. 218) 286 in Minor Poems (1911) i. 340 Thamerous foules with motytes and carolles, Salue this sesoun euery morwenyng . 1679    Processes Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court No. 282 Otherwayes no master that hath ane servant at night is sure to have them at morning . 1849    M. Arnold New Sirens i, I, who in your train at morning Stroll'd and sang with joyful mind, Heard, at evening , sounds of warning. 1968    D. Moraes My Son's Father i. 3 At morning the sea was a very pale, indolent colour.

Finally, I'm including the below explanation from a linguistics standpoint (from the book Cognitive and Communicative Approaches to Linguistic Analysis edited by Ellen Contini-Morava, Robert S. Kirsner, Betsy Rodriguez-Bachiller). In summary, night is an exception and is shrunk to a point as a contrastive location in time in the phrase at night and the difference between at night and in the night is explained with examples.

At for temporal messages ... at , designating a point in space, is used for point in time as well:    (37) He arrived at three o'clock; at noon; at midnight; at sunset; at dawn .

Just as a spatial point has no length, depth, or height, a temporal point such as three o'clock and noon , has no duration. A problematic use of at is the phrase at night. Unlike noon, night lasts from eight to twelve hours. Section 3 showed that a three-dimensional location is sometimes shrunk to a point when the message is one of contrastive location. At night is the temporal analog of at Plattsburgh and at Stoneybrook , contrastive location in time:

   (38) What do the pretty SMU girls like on their plates?          "Pretty much hamburger, hotdogs, steak and, at night , maybe pizza"   Brown, 70361

The contrast in (38) is the different food preferences of the girls at the noon and evening meals. The implication of contrast in at night is better perceived when compared to in the night . Suppose the song 'Strangers in the Night' were titles 'Strangers at night'. The title would no longer suggest two lonely people searching each other out, but a dysfunctional couple: "Companions by Day, Strangers at Night".

In example (39), the two phrases appear in a single passage. The neighbor of a woman who may or may not have committed suicide describes the circumstances of her death:

   (39) I had made a habit of calling her at night , from my cottage, just to check. The last night I had called, but the line as always busy and it reassured me...    She was found the day after at the bottom of the cliff. I tried to believe that what must have happened was that, restless, disturbed by this telephone call or whatever, she walked out in the night , as she had a habit of doing...With all that warm rain an the fog it might have been as simple as a loosened rock, a misstep.   Brown,1171886

The phrase at night implies 'evenings rather than daytime' for the regular calls, a message of temporal contrast. In the night carries no hint of contrast; it describes the dark three-dimensional space into which the woman walked.

• But, um, there actually are instances of the morning versions . –  tchrist ♦ Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 3:22
• @ermanen You might do so, yes. It used to be much more common. –  tchrist ♦ Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 10:54

There is an element of idiomatic nuance at play here. "I always brush my teeth at night," describes a mundane event that takes place every evening. "Someone stole my new orchid in the night," has an appropriate and slightly sinister connotation and suggest the event took place during a specific night, the night. Contrast the previous theft with the following, "Police report that car thefts are on the rise, particularly at night." It describes an on-going nocturnal event.

• 6 Your theory is convincing, but "I always brush my teeth at morning/afternoon" does not sound right, even if the person brushes regularly. –  Asahiko Commented Aug 8, 2013 at 2:38
• @Asa: Normally, "I always brush my teeth in the morning/in the afternoon* is the idiomatic expression. At morning/afternoon is never heard in spoken (or even written) conversation. If one must use at , then at dawn/midday/noon would be more likely. However, those phrases refer to more specific times of day than morning/afternoon . –  Jimi Oke Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 17:12
• 2 Note that we can habituate other parts of the day by pluralizing: In the mornings/afternoons/evenings I used to sit on the balcony . But not so much night , because at night already habituates it, which is why in the night has a specific rather than generic sense, and why *In the nights I used to sit on the balcony sounds so strange. –  John Lawler Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 17:46
• 1 I feel (no offence) this answer does no more than restate the question. As Fumble precisely says in his Bounty Offering, "I know the bottom line is "it's idiomatic", but there must be some rationale." –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:12
• 1 Night is simply different from morning, afternoon, etc. Night is half our life; the time when we sleep, dream, and perform secret activities. It's special and it gets special treatment. It's also scary , and gets even more special treatment for that reason. –  John Lawler Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 16:48

Both at night and in the night are acceptable, though they have slightly different moods. There is no conclusive etymological evidence that I could find, though etymonline suggests :

In choosing between at church, in church, etc. at is properly distinguished from in or on by involving some practical connection; a worshipper is at church; a tourist is in the church.

Following this, it would be logical to claim that something at night is more connected to the time of day than something in the night . Curiously, our usage of in the night tends to be more connected to the noun; e.g. "thief in the night", "things that go bump in the night". These examples make little sense when apart from the night, however, they are quite poetic.

Google's account of their usage shows that the first written instances (that they have record of after 1500) of at night are some 50 years before the first in the night . The in the night was heavily favoured by poets, initially Shakespeare, and could have been constructed for its rhythm.

In conclusion, I could find no evidence explaining why "in the morning/afternoon/evening" evolved, but "at night" remained in its original form. This is obviously not a definitive answer, but I post it so that others may pick up where I left off.

• Wow the article quoted is utterly appalling. Look at the quoted sentence! "There's some, uh, 'practical difference' but we don't know what it is." Imagine having the audacity to write on English and not knowing the difference between points and extents. In a box, on a floor .. uh there's some 'practical difference' but we can't put our finger on it just now ;-) –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:40
• These are interesting . –  tchrist ♦ Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 3:21
• In English time related concepts can be either "events" or "extents". (It's not unlike the countable-discrete/uncountable-volumetric difference for nouns.) You use one or the other form depending on which it is. (Some - most? - words can be used both ways; "night" has two different meanings, (a) "the event" it happened last night and (b) "the extent" 2am is during the night. That's all there is to it: In English time related concepts can be either "events" or "extents". So that's cleared up. –  Fattie Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 8:37
• @JoeBlow: nope. "I sleep at night ." vs "I sleep at January 1 ." What is the non-night corollary for "I sleep at..."? –  Ian MacDonald Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 11:04
• I'm sorry, of course I meant "at night". So the question remains "in the night" vs "at night". I'll delete my previous comment. Joe there's really no need to reply, besides my comment was directed at tchrist. I've read your many many responses. However, I am, as always, still very interested in the answers being posted. –  Mari-Lou A Commented Mar 13, 2015 at 12:48

Effective communication sometimes relies heavily on idiom. On that note, I agree with Michael Owen Sartin's answer .

The day is often divided into morning, afternoon and evening, and it is idiomatic to corresponding adverbial phrases of time as in the morning/afternoon/evening , either when referring to habitual occurrences or those that are imminent. For example:

I usually have coffee in the morning. We meet in the evening. She's coming in the afternoon. "When are you going running tomorrow?" "In the morning."

In regular conversation, other modifiers or indicators (pronouns, etc) are used with morning/afternoon/evening . Sometimes, native speakers drop the articles and prepositions where nonessential to the understanding of the intended recipient. A few quick examples include: tomorrow afternoon, this evening, yesterday morning, morning , etc.

In the night is more formal and poetic, and thus rarely used in regular conversation, at least in my experience. However, it could be used in the same sense as the phrases in the morning , etc. On the other hand, every night is a phrase that is heard very often.

The phrase at night tends to be more common in reported speech and other expressions of habit ( ... sleep at night is a notable example). Equivalent expressions for other times of day are at dawn/daybreak, at midday/noon, at dusk/twilight . Of these, at noon probably occurs most frequently in spoken conversation.

• You know, idiom is utterly unrelated here. If you're using a point time, you say at .. at daybreak, at night, at easter, when lunch arrives. if you're using a time period you say in .. in November, in the night, in Summer. –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:44
• By idiom I'm referring to how language is used by its regular speakers, and that from a rather descriptive standpoint. Rules sometimes are inferred from patterns of speech. Both morning and night are periods of time, and the constructions at morning and at night are not ungrammatical, but the first you'd be hard-pressed to hear in common speech. Red Sky at Morning is the title of a couple books/films, so that construction is more literary than colloquial. I'm not sure I follow your argument. –  Jimi Oke Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:50
• Hi Jimi ! the answer to the question 'in' versus 'at' could not be simpler. It's just due to a point versus an extent. Exactly like countable versus noncountable. If someone asked "Why do we say some milk but we can't say many milk" the answer is just "look up countable in an ESL book". It couldn't be simpler. (Idiom, like "see ya mate" is utterly unrelated to the issue.) –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:55
• "Both morning and night are periods of time" Well no , "morning" is a duration of time (like "January") and is not a point-time (like "January 1"). "night" is a duration of time (like "January") and is a point time (like "January 1"). So you can say "in" (or "during" etc) morning, January, night. And you can say "at" (or "when arrives" etc) January 1, daybreak, night. –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:58
• But that's precisely and exactly like asking "why does dog mean dog, and not cat". Or, "why can dog mean 'dog breed' as well as 'dog', but 'cow' only means 'cow' and not 'cow breed'? Who cares? –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 8:34

As @tchrist comments, there are in fact plenty of written instances of at [the] morn/morning , but it's very much a declining/poetic usage.

Contrastingly, at [the] afternoon has never had any significant currency. Because afternoon already contains a preposition of time/location ( after ) , adding another one ( at ) doesn't work.

And as @Joe Blow comments, in the morning/afternoon/night are common usages (where in is a container metaphor which invariably equates to a duration reference in temporal contexts). As opposed to the locational metaphor preposition at , which in temporal contexts normally identifies a specific point in time .

Thus "We will attack at night" tends to imply at the point where day turns into night , whereas "We will attack in the night" implies any time during the night . But where the reference is to a "continuous, extended" activity (I work at/in the night) , both forms are used.

TL;DR: The issue isn't really "Why do we use at for night, but in the for morning, evening?" . It's "Why don't we use at for morning, evening?" . To which I suggest a major part of the answer is...

Morning and afternoon are much more associated with (and influential towards) each other than they are to night . And at [the] after noon is awkward (because of the double preposition), which has led to at [the] morning falling out of favour "by association".

It's because we are awake during the day, and asleep throughout most of the night.

Saying in the morning/afternoon means at any time within the period of morning or afternoon.

The same with in the night , if someone said that you would think of any time between the hours of 8pm and 6am, or thereabouts.

However, at night generally means the specific time between when night begins and when you go to sleep, let's say between 8pm and 10pm.

It's similar with other specific times of day, such as at midnight or at noon .

We also do it with the morning, but usually either say at dawn or at the time I woke up instead.

For example:

I'm going out at night for a walk.

Generally people would say tonight , but for the basis of this question, saying this sentence would make one think the person is going out late (between 8pm and 10pm).

I'm going out in the night for a walk.

This makes one think they are going out anytime between 8pm and 6am.

• 1 "I'm going out tonight" can mean any time after 20.00 (8 PM) until the small hours e.g. 2 AM, especially if it's a club or discotheque. But if "I'm eating out tonight" it could be any time between 18.00 and 22.00 (generally speaking.) "I'm going out in the night" conjures someone going for a walk, alone, in the dark. –  Mari-Lou A Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 16:29
• I like your answer, but I'm not sure those examples are idiomatic/colloquial. I'm not sure anyone (native/regular speaker) ever says I'm going out at night ! I'm going out in the night is also not a construction that comes up in normal speech. –  Jimi Oke Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 17:15
• Hi Mari-Lou. "tonight" is a completely different word and sense from "night". –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:14
• Mike, sleeping is utterly unrelated to the issue. But other than that you're the only person who noted the (incredibly obvious) answer. Good one. –  Fattie Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 2:45
• @JoeBlow (Ahh! I see Mike has edited his answer). I realized later that I'd written tonight instead of night , but then I understood why I had written it that way, spontaneously without reflecting, because that's how English speaking people would normally say it. (1) I'm going for a walk tonight is more idiomatic.Compare: (2) In the morning I'm going for a nice long walk and (3) At night I'm going for a nice long walk . (3) is grammatical, but who says it? Why shouldn't we say: (4) "In the night I'm going for a nice long walk" ? But we don't! Instead it's (1) i.e tonight. –  Mari-Lou A Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 10:00

"night" can be used with several prepositions:

• at night, in/during the night, by night.

It is up to you which variant you use, the meaning is the same.

http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/night

With periods of time you normally use "in" or "during". Sometimes dimensions are reduced. When you use "at" you either reduce a time stretch to a point of time or you have the concept of "at some point of the night". "by" is used in connection with light: by candlelight, by moonlight, by the first light of the day" and in analogy "by" can be used with day/night: Paris by night.

in that night

in a specified night

e.g. I saw a ghost while I was on the way going home in that night.

in the night

in a specific time of the night only

e.g. I do my homework in the night before I go to sleep.

throughout the whole night

e.g. The night markets open at night only.

e.g. I sleep at night.

in the morning

in a specific time of the morning only

e.g. I brush my teeth in the morning before I go to school/work.

on the morning

in an unspecified specific morning

e.g. She called me on the morning of 1st June.

• @Mari-LouA, oh, but this question doesn't ask about "on that night", so I'm excused from it. :P –  XPMai Commented Mar 16, 2015 at 7:33
• 1 Done adding "in the night" to my answer. –  XPMai Commented Mar 16, 2015 at 7:47
• "I do my homework in the night" is perfectly fine without adding the: "before I go to sleep". Otherwise we'd say: I do my homework before going to sleep (It's shorter and means the same! :-) –  Mari-Lou A Commented Mar 16, 2015 at 7:55
• By the way, can I ask that do you think my (whole) answer is correct or wrong? –  XPMai Commented Mar 16, 2015 at 8:00
• If I want to say that I do my homework the whole night , I'd say " I do my homework at night " instead based on my answer. –  XPMai Commented Mar 16, 2015 at 8:02

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged meaning grammar prepositions or ask your own question .

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How to Do Your Homework on Time if You're a Procrastinator

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek . Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 554,803 times.

Procrastinating on your homework assignments can make school more stressful and can hurt your grade if you're always finishing homework at the last minute. Once you learn a few techniques to beat procrastination can make homework much easier for you! By keeping organized, setting specific goals, and asking for help, you can transform yourself into an academic star who still has time to watch TV and catch up with friends on Facebook.

Getting Organized

Establishing a Routine

• Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to get back to work!

Setting Goals

• Very few people can actually work effectively with music playing. If you like to listen to music while you work but find you aren't getting anything done, try going without it for an hour to see if your concentration improves.

Asking for Help

• This doesn't work for everybody. If you find another person distracting, quit working with them.

How Can I Stop Procrastinating?

Community Q&A

Reader Videos

• Good health can improve your study habits and can help you retain what you learn. Exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep, and skip the alcohol and caffeine. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Ask your parents or a friend to keep your smartphone so you don't get distracted. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Try to set an alarm or a task reminder in your phone. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Even the best students know that they can't work all of the time. Allow some relaxation time for yourself, particularly on the weekends. Good study habits make you work smarter, not harder. Thanks Helpful 121 Not Helpful 9

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-stop-procrastinating/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/focused.html
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
• ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html

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