A Fresh Perspective: Avoiding the all-nighter

It’s an undisputed fact: staying up late is a key component of college life. Sometimes we’re up late for no good reason at all: harvesting crops on FarmVille, watching a movie with a special someone or even being kept up by noisy neighbors. Despite these unforeseen circumstances, the culprit is usually a paper or exam the next day. I’ve already had my fair share of late nights, but I’ve luckily escaped the infamous all-nighter.

However, if I ever have the need to stay up the entire night, I know just how to do it. Even though I’m only in my first semester, I’ve acquired an arsenal of sleep-fighting tools. The first of these is copious amounts of coffee. Whether you like it black, with sugar, milk or CoffeeMate, this piping hot drink is bound to keep you from falling asleep. About a month ago, I consumed about four cups of coffee to aid me in writing my religion midterm paper. It successfully kept me awake until I completed my paper around 3:00 a.m., but then, when I wanted to finally go to bed, I laid awake, jittery and hyper, for nearly an hour. So although it’s an easy quick-fix, coffee can have its downsides.

Another approach I like to use is that of the late-night run. While studying or writing into the wee hours of the morning, I often find myself becoming distracted by various, unproductive activities. By stepping outside for a short run or walk, the cold night air clears my head and allows me to regain focus on the task at hand. Not only does running allow me to reclaim concentration, it’s also healthy and harbors no negative side effects.

After some coffee and an energizing run, my preferred homework location after midnight is definitely a study lounge. Let’s face it, the furniture is simply not that comfortable, and this way, I’m less likely to fall asleep with my face in a book. However, once you wake with a start and find yourself snoozing on your Paideia reader, it’s a clear signal that it’s time for some shut-eye. In this situation, the best solution is a nap the next day to avoid the crash-and-burn.

It can sometimes seem impossible to go to bed at reasonable hour, especially when procrastination gets the best of you. But with naps and the right approaches, sleep deprivation doesn’t have to!