By Rachel Ding’26
Afternoon Study Hall in the Library
Along with the start of window two arrives a new athletic season for sixteen teams. As limited athletic facilities affect winter sport practice times for basketball, ice hockey, and squash, late practices and contingent productivity of study hours bear the consequence. Two courts, Elkins and the FAC are allotted for five Basketball teams: Boys Varsity, Boys JV, Boys Thirds, Girls Varsity, and Girls JV. Four Ice Hockey teams: Boys Varsity, Boys JV, Girls Varsity, and Girls JV, rotate practice on Gardner Rink. Four teams: Boys Varsity/JV, Boys Thirds, Girls Varsity/JV, and Girls Thirds share six squash courts. Thus, afternoon study hall has been introduced to evenly distribute practice hours in the limited court and rink spaces particular to these sports.
From the standard study hall hours of 7:30 to 9:30 PM, thirteen teams have alternated practice times each day, thus periodically shifting their study hours to 3:30 to 5:30 PM. While the amount of time remains constant, the inconsistent occurrence has taken a toll on student academic productivity. Science claims that “learning is most effective between 10 AM to 2 PM and from 4 PM to 10 PM when the brain is in an acquisition mode” (“When Is the Best Time to Study: Morning, Noon or Night?”). Between 1 PM and 4 PM, many experience a period of decreased energy, fatigue, and lack of focus, also referred to as an afternoon slump in response to changes in circadian rhythm (Tolliver). The thirty-minute overlap of unproductivity (1-4 PM) consists of ¼ of afternoon study hall hours (3:30-5:30 PM). Thus, a fourth of the allotted study time lacks efficiency and effectiveness of homework completion and effort.
Switching between standard study hall hours (7:30 PM to 9:30 PM) and afternoon study hall (3:30 PM to 5:30 PM), student-athletes experience a lack of consistency. Scheduled and structured study sessions increase productivity, incorporating a level of familiarity, preparation, and routine, as well as helping to “ensure you study daily” and improve “the quality of your study time” (“When Is the Best Time to Study: Morning, Noon or Night?”).
Afternoon study hall coincides with the afternoon slump, as fatigue and lack of concentration diminish productivity. With the additional erratic occurrence of such study hours, a lack of consistency corresponds to a lack of productivity.
Works Cited
Loveless, Becton. “10 Habits of Highly Effective Students.” Education Corner,
https://www.educationcorner.com/habits-of-successful-students.html#:~:text=Study%20at%20the%20same%20time,regular%20part%20of%20your%20life.
Tolliver, Laura Jazmin. “Why You’Re So Tired After Lunch: The Afternoon Slump Explained.”
Edited by Katie E. Golden, GoodRX Health, 26 Jan. 2022, https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/sleep/why-tired-afternoon-slump.
“When Is the Best Time to Study: Morning, Noon or Night?” PSB Academy, 17 Jan. 2020,
https://www.psb-academy.edu.sg/blog/best-time-to-study.