Throughout my entire high school career, I never pulled an all nighter for school. The work load was way lighter than it is in college and I had no problems getting my work done on time. College is another story...
We all know the drill, you have a big exam next week that you really need to study for but with a million other assignments and a little procrastination, you wait until the day before the exam to start studying. You decide to stay up all night and study, you'll wake up in the morning with all the information fresh in your mind. This method may work for some people but staying up all night really takes a toll on your body.
Sleep allows your brain time to repair and refresh itself so when it doesn't get this time to rest, your brain becomes less effective and your memory actually gets worse. The study method of cramming is actually very ineffective in itself, whether you are sleep deprived or not. Studies show that you only remember the first and last things you hear and all the middle information is forgotten.
Sleep deprivation has serious effects on your future health. Even if you are working out and eating healthy, if you're not getting enough sleep, that is going to negatively effect your health. According to the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, healthy adults who get less than 6 hours of sleep per night are 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke than those who are well rested.
Pulling an all nighter also raises your stress levels. When you don't get enough sleep, your body elevates its levels of cortisol which is what causes you to feel stressed. Sleep deprivation can also cause you to be emotionally irrational. Lack of sleep boosts the part of the brain associated with depression and can cause you to overreact to negative experiences.
These are just a few things to think about before pulling your next all nighter. Is it really worth it?
