This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at George Mason University chapter.
It’s 10 p.m. on a Tuesday. You have a presentation, a mid-term, and a response paper due tomorrow and class starts at 9 a.m. Welcome to a typical all-nighter. It is the ultimate consequence of procrastination, and we pay for our lack of planning with hours of sleep. Here are a couple of ways to improve your all-nighter experience:
Minimize distractions. Make a list what you need to accomplish and in what amount of time. Make a commitment to close the Facebook tab until you are finished working. There is an app that you can download for free called “Self-Control” that blocks access to websites for a set period of time. To learn more about this app, click here. Avoid studying with others if you are unable to focus. If you finish working early you might be able to catch an hour or so of sleep before class.
Stay awake. If you are stuck in a zombie like state, try washing your face with cold water. If the weather is nice, try taking a brief walk outside. The current chilly weather will be sure to shock you awake. Treat yourself to Starbucks — the one located in Northern Neck is open
24 hours, 7 days a week. If you’re pulling an all-nighter or not, it’s always a good to take small breaks from typing and staring at a computer screen.
Do a quick draft. Sometimes the hardest part about finishing an assignment is starting. If you don’t already have a rough draft, quickly jot down your ideas in a word document. Make a quick outline of your paper and simply fill it in with quotes and key points. Make sure to re-read the prompt so that your assignment is complete.
Communicate with your professor. If the possibility of completing the assignment is slim to none, check the late work policy on your syllabus. Professors expect you to consider their class as a top priority in your schedule, but they understand that you have other commitments
and classes. If you know an assignment will be late ahead of time, be responsible and communicate your issues to your professor. There is always a possibility your professor will grant you an extension on the assignment, especially if other students are having trouble finishing on time, or if its during midterms or finals. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Surviving an all-nighter is an accomplishment. As college students, we accept the challenge of an over-booked schedule and are proud of our academic achievements, our involvement on campus and enviable social lives. I raise my coffee cup to you, Mason over-achievers, and I will see in you in the Johnson Center at an irrationally late (or early) hour.
Minimize distractions. Make a list what you need to accomplish and in what amount of time. Make a commitment to close the Facebook tab until you are finished working. There is an app that you can download for free called “Self-Control” that blocks access to websites for a set period of time. To learn more about this app, click here. Avoid studying with others if you are unable to focus. If you finish working early you might be able to catch an hour or so of sleep before class.
Stay awake. If you are stuck in a zombie like state, try washing your face with cold water. If the weather is nice, try taking a brief walk outside. The current chilly weather will be sure to shock you awake. Treat yourself to Starbucks — the one located in Northern Neck is open
24 hours, 7 days a week. If you’re pulling an all-nighter or not, it’s always a good to take small breaks from typing and staring at a computer screen.
Do a quick draft. Sometimes the hardest part about finishing an assignment is starting. If you don’t already have a rough draft, quickly jot down your ideas in a word document. Make a quick outline of your paper and simply fill it in with quotes and key points. Make sure to re-read the prompt so that your assignment is complete.
Communicate with your professor. If the possibility of completing the assignment is slim to none, check the late work policy on your syllabus. Professors expect you to consider their class as a top priority in your schedule, but they understand that you have other commitments
and classes. If you know an assignment will be late ahead of time, be responsible and communicate your issues to your professor. There is always a possibility your professor will grant you an extension on the assignment, especially if other students are having trouble finishing on time, or if its during midterms or finals. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Surviving an all-nighter is an accomplishment. As college students, we accept the challenge of an over-booked schedule and are proud of our academic achievements, our involvement on campus and enviable social lives. I raise my coffee cup to you, Mason over-achievers, and I will see in you in the Johnson Center at an irrationally late (or early) hour.