All-nighters are a right of passage. No matter your major, sleep schedule, or procrastination prowess, few get their degree without realizing they need to make a 24-hour investment in a neglected research paper. But while all-nighters suck, nothing is worse than a sleepless unproductive night. It’s possible to trade those ZZZ’s for A’s.
10 P.M. – The Realization
Two hours ’til midnight is a good time to come to terms with the fact that tonight is going be a late one. As the panic sets in, try not to let the cursor blinking on page two paralyze you. Don’t be hard on yourself; it’s no time to regret prior procrastination. In fact, use that panic as motivation. That’s the key to a successful all-nighter: maintaining motivation. Oh, that and caffeine…in all forms.
10:15 P.M. – Prep
Just like heading out to a party, prep time is vital to the success of an all-nighter. Right now the threat of failing has got you frantic, but as the night slips away sleep will move up on your priorities list. Establish a set of small incentives. This may sound like some kindergarten teacher absurdity, but make these mini rewards worth your while. Start with a couple bottles of your favorite soda or tea. Order coffee from the shop of your choice and grab your go-to snack there. Whether that is a donut or a banana, sustenance is vital to your concentration and consciousness.
10:45 P.M.- Establishing a Stakeout
Although the library is an intuitive choice, walking home can be dicey if you plan on heading back late. Depending on your options, dorm lounges may be the safest spaces to spread out for the next ten hours, because it’s in perfect proximity to your bed. Not too far—not too close. If that’s not an option, your kitchen can be just as productive, with easy access to the fridge.
11:00 P.M. – Spread Out
Arrange your purchases for easy access and commence writing. Everyone has a different process but in the case of all-nighters an outline is the best way to ensure drowsiness doesn’t interfere with the structure of your paper. So while you’re fully awake, shell out your paper so it doesn’t end up sounding like a second grader on a sugar high. An honest outline can take some time, but the hour or so investment is worth it. And remember to keep caffeine on hand.
1:00 A.M. – 3:00 A.M. – Muscle Through
These are by far the toughest hours of the night. You’ve likely fallen from the panic-induced high, and the prospect of keeping your lids up for the next six or so hours seems impossible. This is when mini incentives are critical. Get to page five and reward yourself with a half of a donut. Reach page ten and grab a couple handfuls of popcorn.
Regular breaks are also vital during this stage. Each time you get a reward listen to a song that gets you going. Workout playlists work wonders. Just like burning that last mile on the treadmill, staying awake is 100% mental.
3:00 A.M. – 6:30 A.M.
At this point you’ve likely exceeded the hours of exhaustion. You’re body is in a limbo, where you feel as though the night, typing, and T.I. may or may not have been a dream. Surprisingly enough these are likely the most productive hours because the body has overcome the initial fatigue. Capitalize on moments of energy. Follow the outline and be conscientious but not too critical of your writing. A Simon Cowell approach will most often lead to a mental breakdown. Don’t be your own worst enemy. With an open mind, wrap up that works cited.
6:30 A.M. – 7:30 A.M.
Now it’s time to break the cardinal rule—if only for an hour. Sleep. Indulge in a nap and take a mental break from your work. In order to gain perspective, some space and time away from the essay is necessary. That said…SET AN ALARM (and just in case you hit snooze, SET ANOTHER ALARM). That paper is not worth much if you don’t get it in the hands of your professor so SET AN ALARM.
7:30 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
Crawl out of bed and (with the promise of another coffee) edit that paper. As much as you want to fall face-first on the keyboard, muster an hour of motivation via coffee or tea. Remember the night you put into the paper and make sure your edits count.
10:00 A.M
Turn that sucker in. Pull down the blinds. Hit the sack.