Dead week and finals are upon us, my fellow students. That glorious homestretch, that period of stress-induced insomnia, that final push to save what remains of our GPAs. It is time, my friends, to become creatures of the night and embrace one of the many stereotypes that surrounds college students. We must now prepare for the seemingly endless series of productive caffeine-driven hail-marys that are all-nighters.
Are they ideal? Absolutely not. Can we survive without them? In some cases, yes. However, for many a college student, there are just not enough hours in the day to complete all the work our professors ask of us, especially not if one works and hopes to have some small remnant of a social life in addition to going to school. We are willing to give everything to pursue a higher education, and sometimes that involves sacrificing a night or two of sleep.
I am no stranger to the all-nighter. I have spend many a night hunkered down in a corner of the Behavioral Science Building with my laptop before me and a bottle of liquid caffeine within reach. I know they are miserable, and I avoid them at all costs, but that does not make them any less vital at times.
For those of you who are not familiar with the art of pulling all-nighters and those of you who are preparing for an upcoming all-night study session, allow me to give you a few tips to make your experience a bit more pleasurable.
1. Prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Eat healthy meals, rest up, and exercise. Think about the night ahead of you and make sure you are in a good mental space before you attempt staying up all night. You need to take care of yourself before anything else. You have to live with you, so treat yourself well!
2. Caffeine is a must.
If you can stay up on your own all night, good for you! Also, go get that checked out. That's not normal. However, most of us simply cannot do that. Caffeine becomes a lifeline for most during an all-nighter. Coffee, tea, energy drinks -- pick your poison.
3. Dress appropriately.
You will be up all night. Get comfy, but not sweatpants-and-pajamas-comfy. If you get too comfortable, studying will be more difficult. I go to all-nighters in jeans, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes, but I bring a fluffy blanket to curl up with. Comfort is a must, just not too much.
4. Get a group together.
Find a group of equally driven students to study with. You will find it easier to focus if everyone around you is just as driven.
5. Find a study space.
Find a place where you can study all night -- 24-hour buildings, coffee shops, and study rooms are fantastic. If you want to pull a late night, but not an all-nighter, find a place that closes between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. This will give you a deadline and enough time to crash before your morning classes.
6. Set out a list of what you want to accomplish.
Make a list of what you need to do. Papers, projects, articles, worksheets -- make a checklist of everything you need to do. This will show you how much you have to do and will motivate you as you accomplish more and more.
7. Buckle down.
You can do it. Just focus and push through.
8. If you need to sleep, do it.
It's okay to nap. The brain needs sleep to function. If you need a quick power nap to get through or to go home and crash in bed, do it. Your health comes first.
9. Take study breaks.
Go for a walk. Dance around the room. Sing in the halls. Do whatever you need to do to refocus your mind and give yourself the strength to do what you need to do.
10. Go to bed early!
After your all-nighter and surviving you day of classes and work, go to bed. Get your rest! This is not easy on the body, so reward yourself with a solid eight hours of sleep.
All-nighters are not ideal, but if you must dive in, buckle down, and push through the wee hours of the morning, just know you can do this!
Let the games begin, my fellow students, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
