How to Pull An All-Nighter (The Right Way)
We have all been in this situation, where we have a year’s worth of course-work to complete in one night. We know that it is
unhealthy and stress-inducing, yet we cannot stop doing it even after promising ourselves that this would be our last all-
nighter. Irrespective of your study habits, if you are burning the midnight oil, then do it the right way. All you need are a few
tips to ensure a relatively healthy study session at night.
Stay hydrated and have a snack
Make sure to drink water every once in a while during your all-nighter. It will not only keep you fresh but also help you
concentrate better. You are consuming energy while studying and you will have to keep refilling it. Having a snack of fruits
and nuts in the middle of the night will decrease the fatigue.
Ditch the caffeine
Caffeine helps you stay awake but results in heavy sleepiness later. Herbal tea is a good alternative if beverages are a
necessity for you. Heavy consumption of caffeine is also associated with low information recall and fatigue.
Get some company
Staying awake is hard as it is, and studying while you are sleep deprived is worse. However, everything becomes a little
better if you have a motivated friend by your side. Solving problems together, exchanging notes and having a little chat in
the middle may make your all-nighter a fun experience.
Stay away from the bed
Studying and comfortable surfaces do not mix well. There is a chance that you will fall asleep if surrounded by the comfort of
your blankets and pillows. Instead, use a proper chair and table, and sit upright while studying. It will help you avoid feeling
drowsy and increase your focus too.
Power naps
Set a few timers and take a 15-minute nap when you feel overwhelmed by the sleep deprivation. These naps will allow your
brain enough time to process and retain all the information in the memory. These naps work like pressing a reset button on
your body when there is an overload of information and emotions. You can also replace it with a long period of nap within
wider intervals. In case you are scared that you will not be able to wake up, close your eyes for a few minutes.
Keep moving
Sleepless nights are bound to make you feel lethargic, but you can combat it with a little exercise. Taking a walk around the
room while listening to an upbeat song will make you feel energized. Make sure to include some arm and neck movements
in this regime.
Study in a bright place
Bright screens make it difficult to fall asleep, so it is not a wonder that we should keep our phones away at bed-time.
Studying surrounded by darkness will make you sleepy and have a detrimental effect on your eyesight. So keep the lights on
and focus on a distant object during your breaks.
Pulling an all-nighter is not limited to students, but most people do it the wrong way. Pushing your body to it causes
headaches, fatigue, dizziness and irritation. Long periods of sleep deprivation can also cause hallucinations and disrupt the
sleep cycle in the long term. The few tips mentioned here will ensure high retention of study material and reduce fatigue the
following day.