I spent 24 hours at Mugar and this is what happened
And I did it without coffee
I have never been the person to pull an all-nighter.
I need at least nine hours of sleep to function which is why you will catch me going to bed at 10 p.m every night and never scheduling eight a.ms. However, with finals, it’s impossible not to spend hours in the library.
Well, this study period, I decided to take it a step further and spend a full 24 hours at Mugar and this is how it went.
10 a.m
I got to the library at 10 a.m feeling good.
I had a Rhett’s bagel and was sitting in a swivel chair right by an outlet on the third floor. What else could you ask for? My full nine hours had me feeling awake and ready to write a 12 page paper and find all the z-scores for Stats.
Bring it on
11 a.m
But just as any other trip to the library, I got bored fast.
I didn’t want to spend anymore time on Stats and I cringed realizing I had another 23 hours to go.
Looking out the window, the outdoors have never looked so inviting, even if I was just staring at the wall of the adjacent building. Why couldn’t it be storming and freezing outside?
2 p.m
People started to file into the library and there didn’t seem to be a seat in sight. I thanked myself for starting my endeavor early so I could get one of the comfy chairs.
I was still feeling pretty good and I didn’t have any inclination to buy coffee.
Those first four hours had been productive and the day felt like any other at the library, but I was scared for what was ahead of me.
7 p.m
Boredom and the looming desire to run out of Mugar as fast as I can has started to set in.
As I looked at all the work I had done, I realized I should have gotten more accomplished given that I had been there nine hours already. Why had I only finished my review sheet for Stat? Let me know.
I was jealous of the people that I saw come into the library and then leave four hours later.
10 p.m
Yes halfway done – wait, I’m only halfway done?
The library was really starting to empty out and the GSU was closing which meant nobody could bring me anymore food. In hindsight that was probably a good thing since I had spent entirely too many dining points already.
12 a.m
The third floor seemed completely empty except for three others and myself.
I still had some energy but was feeling strange because normally I’d never be in Mugar past 10 p.m.
2 a.m
I hadn’t eaten in three hours, so naturally I was starving. I would like to take a minute to personally thank Insomnia Cookies for all that they do for the world of college students.
At this point there was no way I was doing any more work.
4 a.m
It had been 18 hours. I was ready to go home.
I was confused to see people come to the library at four a.m. However, it wasn’t as quiet as I expected it to be, due to the group of people singing and doing handstands. The four a.m Mugar crowd is a ~little~ strange.
5 a.m
I watched the sun set and then rise.
I wanted nothing more than to go outside and experience actual fresh air. I also didn’t get nearly enough work done and the motivation to do anymore passed two hours ago.
I thought I was about to fall asleep when I saw a rat scurry under the desk I was at. I had heard rumors about rats in Mugar but had never seen one. I guess I was never up late enough to see one – until now.
8 a.m
New faces started to shuffle into the library and they all looked well rested and “ready” to start studying. Meanwhile, real fatigue had set in and I felt like I was literally falling apart. I hadn’t pulled an all-nighter since my 13th birthday and I was really okay with that.
I didn’t think I could make it another two hours.
Also apparently I was going insane because even though I’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy three times all the way through and I usually never cry, I was sobbing and it wasn’t even a season finale.
10 a.m
I MADE IT.
I was counting down the seconds and I ran out of Mugar faster than I ever have before.
This is what I learned throughout my 24 hour endeavor:
- I hate myself because I voluntarily spent 24 hours in a prison.
- I accomplished no work
- I spent way too many dining points
- I never want to step into Mugar again
- I should start drinking coffee
So, never again.