How To Pull an All-Nighter Without Losing Your Mind

All-nighters are a college essential.  Chances are you’ve probably pulled a few already, and if you haven’t, the rest of us are jealous.  It happens when you find yourself knee-deep in midterms or finals with three group projects, two essays, and huge presentation due within the week, and sleep is last on your to do list.  But pulling a successful all-nighter isn’t just about chasing caffeine pills with Red Bull.  By following a few tips based on your natural body rhythms, you can maximize every hour before dawn. 

Early evening to midnight 

If you know you’re going to pull an all-nighter, try to take a power nap earlier in the evening.  This will help to push back the first wave of sleepiness past your normal bedtime hours.  Later, as your body temperature begins to decline, resist the urge to turn up the heat.  Warmth is more likely to put you to sleep, so grab a sweater and move to a cooler location.  If you can open your window or step outside into cooler air throughout the night, this will help refresh you. 

As you begin to feel sleepy, you’ll probably want to reach for the caffeine to get a boost.  Just remember that too much will make you wired and antsy, which can increase anxiety.  Space out your caffeine intake by the hour or switch to tea instead.  Drinking cold water is another good option. 

1 am to 6 am 

Your brain will start to lose focus as the night goes on, that’s why it’s best to start with your toughest material first.  Take frequent breaks to move around your space.  Exercises like jumping jacks, dancing, or simply walking around your room a few times will refresh your mind.  If you get hungry, reach for snacks like fresh fruits or vegetables, or anything high in protein – they will help you concentrate better than a carbohydrate-heavy meal.  Around 4 am, the urge to sleep will be at its strongest.  But shorter naps will do more harm than good, so resist the urge unless you can sacrifice an hour or two. 

7 am through the next day 

Finish up your work and take a shower.  The water will wake you up and also help you relax.  Then eat a high protein breakfast, which will give you more long-term energy.  Go to class, give your presentation, turn in that paper, and take your exam.  When you’re done, you can finally relax!  Now is a good time to take a nap.  Sleeping all day can further mess up your sleep cycles, so sleeping for an hour or two is best. 

Other Tips

-Don’t work in bed or somewhere you could otherwise doze off comfortably, it will remind you of sleep.
-If you wear contacts, take them out so your eyes don’t get irritated.
-Work with good lighting.
-Find a friend to stay up with.  The conversation will keep you alert and you can keep each other motivated.
-Turn of AIM and sign off Facebook.  Since you’re probably pulling an all-nighter because you have a lot of work to do, excessive procrastination will only stress you out more.
-All-nighters put a lot of strain on your body and are difficult to recover from quickly.  In the future, try to space out your work so you can avoid them.


-Leland Strott