It's a new semester, a new start, a new routine for you -- no more late nights as a result of procrastinating! You start off strong: you check your syllabi and write all the important dates of papers/projects/exams in your planner, schedule out the days you'll need to spend working on them, and feel like your life is together and you're completely in control. You make it through the first exams, and breeze through midterms, with spring break in sight at the end. You spend a week relaxing and forgetting about work and responsibilities, and you feel refreshed and at ease when you finally head back to school.
But then it hits you...you've got summeritis. Your planner starts to see less love, and you start spending more time outside enjoying the weather, and less time inside focusing on your work, or upcoming important dates. When you finally do decide to open your planner, you realize that your anti-procrastination plan has fallen short once again, and that there's only one way you're going to get that paper/project/studying done for tomorrow: the dreaded all-nighter. For anyone out there who's all-too-familiar with them -- or if reading this is your way of procrastinating for yet another one -- here are the general stages you can expect to go through while pulling an all-nighter:
1. Productive Procrastination. "This apartment is a mess. Has anyone vacuumed since we've moved in? I should really do it...and probably wipe down all the counters too.".
2. General Procrastination. "My room is a disaster. Seriously, how do I live like this? I think that laundry pile has been there since before spring break. Also, I should really reorganize my closet according to color and season. Ooh, I'll see if my roommate wants me to do hers too!".
3. Denial. "Seriously, this project/paper/studying won't even be that hard or take very long. I probably don't even need to start working on it until tomorrow, but I'll just do it later to get it done tonight.".
4. Premature Motivation. "OK. Time to bang this paper/project/studying out. If I just sit down and do this, I should be done in an hour or two!".
5. False Productivity. Laptop? Check. Notebook? Check. Textbook(s)? Check. Pen/Pencil? Check. White-out? Check. Highlighters? Check. Comfy pillows? Check. Etc...
6. The First Cup of Coffee. "OK, this time, I actually mean business. I'm gonna need to bring in the reinforcements for this...".
7. Slow, Actual Work. "Been at it for three hours and I've gotten a whole three pages done! Only five more to go...".
8. Second Dinner. "Now seems like a really good time for a break. And a snack. Or maybe two snacks... Eh, might as well just prepare a three-course meal while I'm at it.".
9. Food-Induced Nap. "And...food coma in 3, 2...".
10. The Second Cup of Coffee. "OK, time to get back to work. Better get another cup of coffee so I'm awake and can really focus!".
11. Jittery, Actual Work. "I feel so alive! This paper/project/studying is gonna be done in no time! I'm in the zone!".
12. 5 A.M. Pep-Talk to Yourself. "What, you think it's time to sleep more? Sleep is for the weak! Are you weak?! Get your head in the game! Back to work!".
13. Too Many Cups of Coffee to Admit It. "Problem? What problem? I'm good. Let's do this!".
14. Delirious Proofreading. "Damn, this is genius. You are a genius. Can professors give A++s? Because this is definitely A++ quality work!".
15. Exhaustion-Induced Nap. "OK, I'm gonna grab 15 minutes of shut-eye so I don't die. I'll be back to finish proofreading this amazing work right after.".
16. Actual Proofreading. "Yeah...this is actually really bad. Like...REALLY bad. Who let me write this crap?"
17. Weird Rush of Energy. "Why do I even bother to sleep at night? I feel so awake! Seriously, I could go for a run or something right now!".
18. THE CRASH. "Why the hell did I think any of this was a good idea? I'm pretty sure my brain might actually be shutting down right now.".
19. A Full Day Ahead of You. "Never again...until the next paper/project/exam.".
