With finals approaching fast, it's probably not too wild to assume that students are going to drastic measures to prepare; including pulling some necessary all-nighters to cram material. Although staying up all night to study for an exam does not come highly recommended, it can sometimes be hard to avoid. However, these late study sessions can sometimes do more harm than good; you have to be strategic if you want to make it worth it. With that being said, if you're going to pull an all-nighter, take these tips to be sure that you do it right.
1. Avoid caffeine during the day
If you know that you're going to be staying up all night, then it might sound like a good idea to grab a coffee during the day to keep you chugging along. However, your mind and body begin to build up a small tolerance to caffeine the more that you drink it. Avoiding caffeine the day of -- or even the day before -- your sleepless night can ensure that it will be effective when you really need it. With that being said, caffeine is definitely your friend at night, which is when you will need it most.
2. Take a nap
Sleeping as much as you can before the big night is extremely helpful. A few hours would be ideal, but probably unreasonable, so try to get as much as is realistically possible. Sleeping before an all-nighter chases away most of the early drowsiness that you might feel and will keep your brain going stronger for longer!
3. Focus on the hardest material first
Although you may want to keep the tough material at bay for as long as possible, tackling it first is far more beneficial than staring at it at 5 a.m. and not being able to comprehend a single word. Early on in the night, you're going to be the most awake (and ideally, you would've just woken up from a refreshing nap) so your brain should be able to handle it best.
5. Stretch those legs
Although it might not sound like exactly what you want to do at 2 a.m., taking a brisk walk or doing a few jumping jacks will keep your mind focused. Not surprisingly, exercise increases your brain's ability to learn and retain information. You don't want to go overboard on the workout, however. While a short burst to get your blood flowing will be beneficial, an exhausting full-body workout will take you down fast.
6. Change your scenery
During a long study session, staring at the same wall or rug pattern for too long can drive you up a wall. Stretching your legs and moving to a new area can help keep you focused and will be refreshing for tired eyes.
7. Bring a jacket
When your body knows that it's time to go to sleep, it begins to turn your temperature down to prepare. While the room that you're studying in may have felt comfortably warm when you started, you'll start to feel chilly. Instead of turning up the heat (as this might make you feel drowsy) put on a light jacket or sweatshirt and keep plugging along.
8. Step outside and breathe
At around 6 or 7 a.m., take a short walk outside and view a night owl's greatest reward: the sunrise. The fresh air will wake you up and hopefully the beautiful view will inspire you to kick butt and make the all-nighter worth it. You earned it!
