At some point or another, every exhausted college student has dozed off in the middle of the night only to wake up four hours later with a massive pile of unfinished work. Can you say, “failed All-Nighter”? That poor college student may not pass his Physics class because he couldn’t keep his eyes open. Once you have a game plan for your All-Nighter, the key is sticking to it.
Keep yourself Motivated
Set your list of goals in front of you so that you remember what you have to accomplish. Keep reminding yourself that “this, too, shall pass.” There is light (and an A in Biochemistry) at the end of the tunnel! If you have a fellow college student pulling the same All-Nighter ask her to periodically check your progress.
Stick to your Schedule
You wrote out your plan for a reason. Now is the time to get it done. Use the blocks of time you decided on as mini-deadlines. Tell yourself, “I need to have this assignment finished by 2pm.”
Take Good Notes
If you are studying for a test you will retain the information much better if you write down important points as you study. These notes will also serve as a reference for quick study as you run to class the next day!
Snack Healthfully
Remember that stash of apples and granola bars you bought yesterday? Now is the time to get those out and keep your energy up. Your body needs fuel if you expect it to skip a full night of sleep to get you through your All-Nighter.
Take Breaks
Your brain is going to need a rest periodically throughout the night. Do not deprive yourself of this. The temporary mind relaxation could mean the difference between a great paper and a completely unintelligible one. Go ahead and take a quick walk, check email, or play a couple levels of a video game before you head back to the grindstone.
Take a Nap
When you just can’t seem to keep your eyes open for one more minute, the best thing to do is just close them. But don’t do it before you set an alarm! A 15 – 20 minute power nap can make a huge difference in motivating you to stick out your All-Nighter. Just be sure to wake up when the alarm goes off and get back to work.
The All-Nighter is a time-honored tradition among college students. Use it wisely and learn the benefits of the night’s fullest potential!
