Spring Break
Survival of the most awake: pulling an all-nighter
Paresh Jha
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Focus
You have heard all the tips on studying well in advance and time management, but the reality is that a lot of us always end up cramming. It is the way of the college world, whether you are an art history or chemistry major. So instead of a list on ways to study properly in advance, here are some tips on cramming, staying awake and making those last few hours actually count.
Don't get comfortable
It's 2 a.m. and you still have a lot left to tackle for that final at 8 a.m., but your body is tired, your eyes are droopy and you feel terrible. You really should have thought about studying earlier, but don't dwell on the past; it'll likely send you spiraling into depression.
Your first instinct is to just grab your book and lie down in bed and study. Bad idea! You will most surely fall asleep and wake up panicking. The idea is to shock your system out of its comfort zone in order to keep yourself awake and as focused as you can be. Remember, once everything is over you can sleep as much as you want.
For now, open the windows and let in some cold air. If you love the cold, then turn up the heat. If you get sleepy while sitting down, stand up and walk around with your book. Remember, the more out-of-the-ordinary and inconvenient your setup is, the more likely your cramming session will succeed.
Beware of food
It is widely known that, after a good amount of food, all anyone wants to do is crash. Ordering full scale meals at 1 a.m. while studying is going to take a large chunk of time away from your cramming session and put you to sleep.
If you absolutely must eat while studying, make sure to stick to light snacks that can help the mind and metabolism. Granola bars, almonds, any sort of nuts and chocolate can be beneficial.
Energy drinks
"Along with a powernap, my two tried-and-tested energy drinks a night help out my all nighters. But that's me," said 5th-semester biology major David Wu.
Maybe one or two energy drinks won't hurt, but who knows? You are staying up all night regardless and that is not healthy to begin with. Whatever the case may be, it would be wise not to binge on these energy drinks since it could be likely that the crash from that high may just happen during your exam. The last thing your professors need is drool pools as opposed to eraser stains on their tests. You may just be better off with some water or Gatorade since these will at least be able to keep you hydrated. The thing about energy drinks is that, besides the crash, they tend to dehydrate you. So buyers beware, Red Bull may be your friend at midnight but could be your worst enemy at 6 a.m.
Don't get comfortable
It's 2 a.m. and you still have a lot left to tackle for that final at 8 a.m., but your body is tired, your eyes are droopy and you feel terrible. You really should have thought about studying earlier, but don't dwell on the past; it'll likely send you spiraling into depression.
Your first instinct is to just grab your book and lie down in bed and study. Bad idea! You will most surely fall asleep and wake up panicking. The idea is to shock your system out of its comfort zone in order to keep yourself awake and as focused as you can be. Remember, once everything is over you can sleep as much as you want.
For now, open the windows and let in some cold air. If you love the cold, then turn up the heat. If you get sleepy while sitting down, stand up and walk around with your book. Remember, the more out-of-the-ordinary and inconvenient your setup is, the more likely your cramming session will succeed.
Beware of food
It is widely known that, after a good amount of food, all anyone wants to do is crash. Ordering full scale meals at 1 a.m. while studying is going to take a large chunk of time away from your cramming session and put you to sleep.
If you absolutely must eat while studying, make sure to stick to light snacks that can help the mind and metabolism. Granola bars, almonds, any sort of nuts and chocolate can be beneficial.
Energy drinks
"Along with a powernap, my two tried-and-tested energy drinks a night help out my all nighters. But that's me," said 5th-semester biology major David Wu.
Maybe one or two energy drinks won't hurt, but who knows? You are staying up all night regardless and that is not healthy to begin with. Whatever the case may be, it would be wise not to binge on these energy drinks since it could be likely that the crash from that high may just happen during your exam. The last thing your professors need is drool pools as opposed to eraser stains on their tests. You may just be better off with some water or Gatorade since these will at least be able to keep you hydrated. The thing about energy drinks is that, besides the crash, they tend to dehydrate you. So buyers beware, Red Bull may be your friend at midnight but could be your worst enemy at 6 a.m.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Barbs
posted 12/10/08 @ 2:12 AM EST
I was reading this over in San Francisco tonight, when I thoight back to the time when I was there. I used speed to get me through the night. It worked brilliantly, and the next day my reward was weed, made even more potent by the fact that I had taken speed. (Continued…)
Bet on the Super Bowl
posted 12/12/08 @ 11:23 AM EST
yawn...
sAn FrAnCisCO mOvErs
posted 1/07/09 @ 6:27 PM EST
nothing i didnt already know but props for the effort...
Wilma Walker
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:10 AM EST
That looks like lots of fun. When I was in college we didn't had so many fun activities.
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