There's nothing like pulling an all-nighter with friends, yet no one ever talks about what it's like when you pull an all-nighter by yourself. And that's because it's hellish. Here's what happens when you pull a solo all-nighter.
At 12, you're working hard. You are confident, cocky even. You sip a caffeinated beverage and get stuff done.
At 1:30, you eat the last chip from the bag, the last slice of pizza, or the last piece of candy. Desperation grows and your dedication thins. You find more food. You eat guiltily, but then you convince yourself you deserve this food for working so hard.
At 2:30, you begin to get sleepy. You do a handstand or something to get your heart rate up.
At 2:40, you regret this decision and check all of your social media feeds, confident you're the only one up as you sit in what has now become the most comfortable couch ever.
At 3, you laugh at some stupid video you found and wonder what makes an otter video so funny. You groan and go back to work, realizing you've wasted time again.
At 3:15, you realize you've listened to the same song 32 times and you begin to hate yourself. You find caffeine and want to cry.
At 4:15, you convince yourself you need a break. You use the bathroom and almost fall asleep on the seat.
At 4:25, you think of napping for a bit. You lay down for 27 minutes and decide it was all a mistake.
At 5:15, you make yourself breakfast. A pop tart and some gross orange juice that costs too much. You realize you've started talking to yourself out loud. You eat in shame and silence.
At 6, you go to the bathroom and look in the mirror. You think about showering. You are a mess and not a hot one today. You accept defeat and zombie-walk back to your work.
At 6:30, you lay down on your laptop and groan. The end is near. You pick yourself up and push through.
At 6:45, you hear human life down the hall. They come out of the bathroom, well-rested, clean, well-dressed, and evil. You stare daggers into their hearts and wish they knew how lucky they were that they slept. They walk away, terrified that you'll begin foaming at the mouth. You attempt to make eye contact, but your eyes begin to fail.
At 7, someone complains about their 6 hours of sleep. You don't slap them only because that requires movement.
At 7:45, you have finished your work. You have an 8 am class. You decide to go in what you're wearing. You don't look at yourself in the mirror, but you know that you look as horrible as you feel. You have more caffeine. It just makes you want to cry. You go to your class, just waiting for tonight when you'll be able to sleep (hopefully).
You made it through yet another solo all-nighter. You want to watch the world burn, but at least you can claim you're dedicated.
