I can’t say that I recommend pulling an all-nighter; you will literally make yourself sick if you aren’t getting enough sleep. However, procrastinating a huge assignment until the night before it’s due is basically a collegiate rite of passage. The main goal of an all-nighter, besides for finishing the assignment, is doing everything you can to make sure you don’t actually have to stay up all night. Even if that 15-page paper seems impossible to write in a night, there are ways you can minimize, or at least survive, your next all-nighter.
- Create a good work environment
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Online school can make it difficult to stay focused and motivated, especially after a full day of staring at a screen from your desk. Creating a good work environment is crucial for keeping a productive mindset into the early morning hours. Make sure your desk is clear and clean, turn on all of your lamps, and put some peppermint or citrus essential oil in the diffuser to perk you up. If you’re sick of sitting at your desk all day, it can be helpful to get a change of scenery by setting up at your kitchen table or couch (if you won’t fall asleep).
- Find your perfect concentration playlist
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I absolutely cannot get work done if I don’t have the right background noise. People on TikTok are saying that listening to MarioKart music makes them work faster but I feel like it just increases my anxiety. Spotify has tons of study/concentration playlists that won’t make your heart race; some of my favorites are Chill LoFi Study Beats and Mozart Study. I’m also a big fan of study ambiance videos on Youtube. There are a ton of fun videos like Hogwarts Rainy Window Ambience Harry Potter ASMR
and Harry Potter inspired ASMR – Hogwarts Library that help you channel your inner Ravenclaw, or other weirdly niche background noise tracks like Winter Storm Ambience with Howling Blizzard and Drifting Snow on an Abandoned Road in Norway. Some of my friends swear by movie soundtracks, especially Star Trek, Pirates of the Caribbean, and How to Train Your Dragon, or something more subdued like Pride and Prejudice.
- Make a realistic to-do list
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It’s so easy to get carried away and make a multiple page to-do list, but doing so will just make you even more overwhelmed. Identify the most important things you need to do by the next morning and break them into manageable chunks. If you’re a Type A Capricorn like me and get a rush out of crossing tasks off your list, here’s a to-do list pro-tip: make the first thing on your list “make to-do list” so you can feel productive just by making the list. This is what a realistic, manageable to-do list could look like:
Tonight’s To-Do List:
1. Make to-do list :)
2. Clear off desk
3. Gather 4 resources supporting argument
4. Make outline with fleshed out paragraphs
5. Write paper [note: you can also break this down by paragraph if you like crossing off smaller tasks as you go]
6. Review and make edits
7. Finalize citations
8. Submit
- Use a timer
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Whether you strictly use the Pomodoro method or find a different timing schedule that works for you, timers can be a helpful work tool to keep you productive and focused. I like working in 45-minute chunks with my phone on the other side of the room. The time goes faster than you think and it helps to break down your work time into less daunting time periods. Instead of thinking “oh my gosh, I have to work for the next seven hours,” you only have to focus on getting through the next 45 minutes. It’s also important to use a timer when taking breaks in between your work periods to keep you on track for the night. I typically take 10-15 minute breaks to grab a snack or water, stretch, take my dog on a short walk, or let my mind go blank on TikTok for a moment. Breaks are important to let your mind rest and get your eyes off a screen, even for a short time.
- Set goals and intentions
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My friend recently introduced me to setting goals and intentions before every work period and it’s incredibly helpful. For example, a goal could be “I want to finish two paragraphs in the next 45 minutes” and your intention could be “I will be thoughtful in my writing instead of putting in minimal effort just to get it done.” Knowing what you want to accomplish in the work period and how you want to do it sets up a more productive mindset. Short term goals, like finishing two paragraphs, is also way less overwhelming than “I will write this entire 15-page paper.”
- Form a virtual study hall
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If you have a big project due the next day, there’s a good chance other people are in the same boat as you. The pandemic has made it harder to go to the library with friends, but holding a virtual study hall is a great way to do work if you rely on group work to keep you accountable. Set up a Zoom call with your friends and classmates, set a timer, and work independently for the duration of the work period. Then, during your break, you can commiserate, update each other on your progress, share goals and intentions, bounce around ideas, or start a quick Among Us game.
- Fuel your body
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It’s obvious to say, but all-nighters are not healthy. Keep your body fueled with snacks and hydration throughout the night. I like grapes, toast, Earl Grey tea, and Trader Joes Sour Scandinavian Swimmers to get me through a long night. Drink coffee if that works for you, but I know that just makes me jumpy and less focused.
Again, all-nighters aren’t ideal and should be avoided at all costs, but they’re sometimes needed. Try to keep a calm headspace, take breaks, and most of all, take care of yourself. Keep the end goal in mind: that sweet nap you can take after class tomorrow.