Mid-term assessments are looming and I for one am sure to be spending more than a few nights at my laptop, desperately trying to collate my notes into something I’m not embarrassed to submit to a professor. For those of you who are also likely to be losing sleep over your deadlines, here are my top tips for surviving an all-nighter:
1. Avoid your bed at all costs.
It’s true that being wrapped up in your blankets may be a comfortable way to work, but the temptation to rest your head on the pillow may prove all too strong. If possible, try not to work in your bedroom at all; but if you have to, make sure it is, at least, at a desk.
2. Caffeine is your friend.
This one is fairly obvious; coke, coffee and energy drinks, though they may not be the best thing for you, are going to be your lifeline tonight. Drink slowly, though; downing cans of red bull will only make you jittery. Instead, take occasional sips throughout the night.
3. Slow burning snacks.
A large meal is likely to make you sleepy, so my advice is to skip dinner and snack on foods that will give you energy throughout the night; think apples, oatmeal, low-fat cheese, bananas, rice, wholemeal bread, and veg.
4. Twitter/Facebook.
I’m not one to subscribe to the “avoid all social media at all costs” rule when it comes to writing essays; but if you are someone who will still be looking at pictures of your friend’s cat two hours after logging on, then it’s best to avoid Twitter or Facebook. ‘Self control’ is great for mac users who want to block certain sites for a certain period of time; you can download it free online. For everyone else, I find that tweets about how much I hate all things academic are helpful for letting off steam while writing essays; you are also likely to find other friends struggling in the same way as you, which will help you feel less alone in your plight.
5. Dance break.
This may sound silly, but hear me out; when you feel your brain melting and your energy fading, put on some cheesy music and just dance around the room for five or ten minutes. This will give you a break, cheer you up, and give you the energy to plough on with that essay.
6. To work alone or with friends?
To answer this, you need to know how you work best; if you are easily distracted when with other people, then work alone. Also, instruct your flatmates or housemates not to disturb you, and turn your phone off. However, if you are someone who works well when in a group (I am far less inclined to procrastinate when I know someone will see that I am procrastinating), get some friends together who have similar deadlines and tackle them together. Then you can go for breakfast in the morning and toast your successes with a cup of coffee.
7. Promise yourself a reward
Remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, be it a cinema ticket, a new pair of shoes, or a gig. Having something waiting for you after your final deadline will enable you to keep going.
8. Remember; the night is endless.
Do not succumb to the thought that you can simply fall asleep and complete your essay in the morning. The chance of you actually waking up early is very small, and at eleven o’ clock in the evening, you have the whole night ahead of you. Wake up at ten, and you will only have until four. This makes all the difference. You can sleep after you have submitted your work to turnitin (and don’t forget to hand in a hard copy!).
Godspeed, fellow students! The night is still young and the essays are still unwritten, but once the final deadline has passed, we will have drunken nights at Fruity and a blissful stretch of time before January exams loom and all nighters begin once again!
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