Maybe you suffer from insomnia, maybe you had to study for an exam or BS your way through a 10 page paper, or maybe you just literally couldn't sleep. And suddenly, the sun is up and you have to get to class... without having a single hour of sleep in you. Part of you is thinking "go back to bed," but don't! Sleeping until 4 will only make your sleep cycle more screwed up. Instead of sleeping the day away, learn how to survive the morning after of an all nighter.
Don't sleep until late afternoon
This can be so tempting, but it's only hurting you more. You may feel like all you need is to hit the pillow, but by sleeping crazy amounts of hours during the day will just screw up your night's sleep again. If you don't want to have another sleepless night, you'll just get moving with your day.
Wash your face with cold water
You probably normally splash water on your face when you wake up in the morning, so this should be no different. It'll perk your eyes up and instantly make you feel more refreshed. Plus, it'll probably help out the appearance of your blood shot eyes.
Have coffee - but not too much
Duh? Coffee in the morning is essential for doing anything in the morning, even after getting 6 hours of sleep. However since you're trying to ensure you get a good night sleep after not sleeping at all, don't go overboard on the caffeine. Definitely do not have it any later than 4 PM, at the risk of having yet another sleepless night.
Stay hydrated
You may not realize it but just by drinking some cold water, or any water really, you can feel more awake during the day. Sure, you probably won't get that instant kick a nice Americano would give you, but it actually helps you so much. Drinking water constantly throughout the day will prevent you from feeling drained or sluggish, and you'll be more focused. You'll also get less headaches, and won't feel as grumpy as the day goes on.
Do not wear sunglasses
When I don't get any sleep, I immediately want to throw on a pair of sunglasses to block out all of that disgustingly bright light, and hide my bloodshot and swollen eyes. This is actually only going to make you more tired. Yeah, the light may be super harsh after a sleepless night, but it'll help perk your eyes up, making you feel more awake.
Eat healthy
Ok everyone knows eating healthy is great for you at all times, and you're probably sick of being told to eat your fruits and veggies, but it is pivotal after a sleepless night. Stay away from those fried, fatty, processed foods and go for a salad with some chicken, a nice fruit bowl, etc. Foods that are rich in antioxidants can help protect your cells that are sleep deprived and not fully functioning. Think about all those women laughing at their salads, they look happy and awake, right?
Do something active
*Cue groans* You're sick of being told to go to the gym when you do get enough sleep, but now you have to when you don't get any? Trust me, you need to get your blood flowing. I'm not saying go through with a huge fancy gym session or swim 3 miles (trust me, I've had my fair share of swim practices with no sleep - halfway through you want to drown). Simply go for a walk, take the stairs, skip taking the bus, etc. Even the smallest activities will help, just get your body moving. Remember that simple rule you learned about inertia in middle school? A body in motion stays in motion.
If you need to nap, you can, but don't overdo it.
If you're someone who usually naps, then definitely take a quick nap today. Try not to doze off for too long, because you still want to be able to go to sleep at night.
Don't overdrink
I know it sucks, especially if you happened to be having this zombie like day on the weekend, (aka Thursday, Friday, Saturday and let's face it, probably Tuesday and Wednesday), but alcohol already disrupts your sleep. If you absolutely have to go out, obviously go for it, but just know that when you wake up feeling bad the next morning, it's not just from your hangover, it's from extra sleep deprivation.
Go to bed early
Congrats, you made it through the day. Try to get everything done early, so you can get into bed at an earlier hour. Put your phone away, lights off, and give your body the extra sleep you need.
Hopefully, you won't have too many sleepless nights in your future, but if you do, at least now you'll know how to survive the morning after.
