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How long a study block should be
Study Methods · updated 2026-09-07
25 minutes is the famous number. It suits drilling, not reading.
| Block | Break | Best for |
|---|
| 25 min | 5 min | Flashcards, problem sets |
| 45 min | 10 min | Reading, note-taking |
| 90 min | 20 min | Essays, coding, lab writeups |
| 120 min+ | 30 min | Rarely worth it |
What broke the blocks
- Phone in the room. Roughly one interruption every 12 minutes.
- Starting without a defined stopping point.
- Stacking three 90-minute blocks in one evening.
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