Top tips for pulling an all-nighter

It’s that time in the term where deadlines are slowly starting to pile up before you and all you want to do is starting getting festive but you’ve got approximately six thousand and three things to do before that even becomes an option.

To top things off, we fear we’ve left things to mount up too much, and so we procrastinate. Soon, we are left with a measly 24 hours to complete and hand in an assignment before its deadline. This often results in pulling an all-nighter – a fundamental element of any university student’s experiences of studying a degree. But staying awake for the completion of an assignment can prove more challenging than the assignment itself. Here are some tips to keep alert.

Splash your face with cold water

When the clock ticks past 3am, our eyes can be the first to fail us. They get groggy, they begin to shut, blinking becomes a prolonged chore. Times like these call for cold water. It will stop your eyes from relaxing and feeling sleepy. The shock to your skin will also stop you from feeling comfortable, and keep you awake.

Dance or exercise to some music

As soon as your brain hears music it will instantly start processing the sound, in result, you will feel more alert because you are using more of your brain. Getting some physical exercise involved will prevent your body from shutting down and going to sleep – the adrenaline will give you a buzz similar to a sugar rush. Besides, who can turn down an excuse for a midnight boogy, where nobody can see or judge you?

Take 20 minute naps

This is a risky tactic if you’re already feeling tired as you may hit snooze on the alarm a little too much, or worse, not even hear it. But 20 minutes is supposed ot be the perfect powernap time for you to wake up actually feeling better than you did before you hit the pillow. Plus, a little bit of rest is important for the brain and will probably improve the quality of your work. You could also view it as a motivating treat, for example, after every two tasks you complete you have a 20 minute nap.

Stock up on coffee (or energy drinks)

At 5am it may get to the point where all these ‘natural methods’ are failing you, and you need some chemical strength. Obviously, caffeine is the biggest saviour when it comes to pulling an all-nighter. You should definitely have some instant coffee or red bull on standby as emergency backup for when your poor body starts physically failing you.

Feel warm

When your body gets cold it instantly begins to feel fatigued; it is using all of its resources and energy to warm you up, therefore you begin to feel sleepy. You can also put a dressing gown on or wrap a blanket around you, but whilst this feels cosy, you may subconsciously associate these actions with going to bed and you may start to feel more tired. So, a top tip is to crank the heating up. Just think how restless you feel during hot summers trying to sleep.

Look at a screen

Studies show that trying to sleep after looking at screens proves more difficult, so when you’re trying to stay awake it’s a perfect excuse to check your Facebook notifications every now and again. Particularly if your engaging in something interactive, like a video game or messenging a mate. This could be a good break in between work, if you set a timer.  Just be careful not to get hooked playing fifa for five hours when you have an approaching deadline.

Keep a bright light on

As tempting as it might be when you have 2000 words to write, don’t follow the light! But do switch some on. Working in a bright environment will make you feel awake and see more clearly, which will keep you brain focused and your eyes open.

Good luck to everyone rushing to complete their summatives for the end of the term, I believe in you.