By Winnie Galbadores
All-nighters: you can only avoid them for so long.
Its a week before your midterm and you’re relaxed. That’s definitely enough time to study right? But then you have that meeting tonight. You also promised dinner with your roommate the next night. Oh, and a new episode of your show is on- you can’t miss that. Before you know it, your midterm is the next day and you haven’t studied yet. It’s crunch time and you’re dreading the night ahead of you, but at this point it’s necessary. Although this may be an experience most college students want to avoid, some may thrive and work greatly under pressure. While we don’t endorse sleepless nights, we’re certainly guilty of quite a few of them. Here are some tips to help you survive your first all-nighter:
1. Take a nap: If you’ve already had a long morning, go ahead and take a two or three hour nap in the evening before you begin doing your work. This will give you energy for the long night ahead of you.
2. If your assignment doesn’t need internet connection, don’t use it: Social media sites such as facebook and tumblr can be quite distracting. If your assignment does require internet connection, limit yourself to using those sites. There is a lovely application for macs called self control, which allows you to block a list of websites or programs you want for a certain period of time.
3. Keep energized with healthy snacks: The continuous snacking and crunch of a bowl of nuts or dried fruits gives you a steady release of energy over time. If you’re looking for a quick energy source, fresh bananas and apples are the way to go. Both are packed with several vitamins, minerals, and good carbohydrates.
4. Stay away from energy drinks: The quick energy high is always followed by a crash. If you must, drink soda or coffee. They’ll give you a perk without the crash. If you’re not a caffeine drinker, cold water will also help keep you up throughout the night.
5. Study location is key: Not your bed, a comfy couch, or the floor that will potentially make you want to fall asleep. Work somewhere you will not be tempted to fall asleep and complete your work in a well lit place.
6. Complete your more challenging assignments first: You’ll have more concentration and will most likely do more work at the beginning of your all-nighter.
7. If possible, take a couple breaks: During your breaks, walk around and stretch or take a cold shower to help wake you up. If needed, take a 20 minute power nap to re-energize your body and mind.
8. Work with a group: If you’re not the only one that needs to pull an all nighter, work with your friends. Surround yourself with those who will keep you accountable on working efficiently.
Different things work for each individual so be sure to try all of them out and even find new tips to keep you up. Most importantly, breathe and keep a positive state of mind throughout the night. Whether you’re in college or not, these tips will allow you to stay calm and focused.
