The Science Behind Your Body Clock

Your body runs on a circadian rhythm – a natural 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep, focus, and alertness

Here’s how it generally works:

• Morning (5-8 AM): High willpower, quiet environment, brain fresh after sleep.
• Afternoon (1-4 PM): Natural dip in alertness.
• Evening (6-9 PM): Second peak in focus for many people.
• Late Night (11 PM onwards): Quiet hours, but sleep deprivation risk rises.

Benefits of Studying at 4 AM

• No distractions: Everyone is asleep. No calls. No WhatsApp pings.
• Peak willpower: Your mind is fresh after sleep, ideal for solving Quant and DI.
• Builds discipline: Waking up early often creates a sense of achievement that fuels your day positively 

But here’s the flip side:

• Sleep sacrifice: If you’re sleeping at 12 AM and waking at 4 AM, you’re robbing your brain of REM sleep needed for memory consolidation (Walker, 2017).
• Not sustainable for everyone: If you’re naturally a night owl, waking up at 4 AM will lead to grogginess and poor focus.

Benefits of Studying at 11 PM

• Peaceful environment: Similar to early mornings, nights are quiet with minimal distractions.
• Better for night owls: If your energy peaks late at night, studying at 11 PM might feel more natural.
• Extended flow state: If you’ve been studying since evening, you can carry the momentum into late night.

But here’s what to watch out for:

• Cognitive fatigue: After a long day, your mental energy may be depleted, leading to careless errors in practice questions (Baumeister & Tierney, 2011).
• Disrupted sleep cycle: Studying late might interfere with sleep quality, leading to tired mornings and a vicious cycle of unproductivity.

So, Which One is Better?

Here’s the honest answer:

Neither time is universally better. It depends on your chronotype and sleep hygiene.

Ask yourself:

1. When do I feel most alert and focused?
2. If mornings feel foggy, 4 AM prep will be counterproductive.
3. Am I getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep?
4. Whether you wake up early or stay up late, sleep debt kills focus, memory, and mood.
5. Does this routine fit my lifestyle sustainably?
6. There's no point waking up at 4 AM if you sleep off during afternoon lectures.

Practical Tips to Choose Your Optimal Time

Tip 1: Experiment for a week each. Try studying at 4 AM for a week, then at 11 PM. Track your focus, accuracy, and energy levels.

Tip 2: Prioritise sleep. Build your study routine around your sleep, not at its cost.

Tip 3: Reserve peak focus hours for high-intensity topics like QA or DI. Keep lighter tasks like revision or reading articles for low-energy hours.

Tip 4: Remember, CAT is in the morning (generally 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM) slots. Ensure your routine builds comfort with solving questions during morning hours.

Listen to Your Brain, Not Toppers’ Schedules

At the end of the day, CAT rewards consistency, clarity, and confidence, not romanticised grind hours.

So instead of copying a topper’s 4 AM routine blindly or glorifying late-night hustle, ask yourself:“When am I at my cognitive best?”

Because it’s not about when you study, it’s about how effectively you study.