How do you survive after an all-nighter?

[Anonymous]

Lately I've been pulling a lot of all-nighters, or at least getting very little sleep because of school. I don't drink coffee as of right now. I tried it once in high school, but it was nasty so I'm hesitant to try it again.

I take the bus to and from my campus, and I get home late on Friday afternoons. I find I'm beginning to fall asleep on the bus, and I'd rather not. :P

It's especially worse on Friday's because it's really dark when I leave campus.

If you've ever had to pull an all-nighter for whatever reason, what helped you stay awake the next day?

And if you drink coffee, does it actually increase your alertness? And if so, do you have any brands/brews that you would recommend (that don't taste awful)?

Thanks.

Updates

+1 y

Also, I should have clarified: how do you survive when you still have to still through class? lol

I'm in class from 10:30 AM - 7 PM on Fridays. Once that afternoon rolls around, it's awful.

Updates

+1 y

Sit*


^ Tiredness is already getting to me.

[JonnyGR]

A couple time's I've suffered through the 'all nighter' method in desperation, hoping to pursue and succeed in meeting a deadline or prepare for a presentation.

The last time I did this, it was a combination, as well as confronting my tutors and head of year with excuses and explanations for my absence and lack of work or study.

I just consistently had top ups of a beverage I would refer to as 60 % caffeine lol. It's a combination of 3 tea bags and a few spoon fulls of coffee dissolved in half a cup of hot water.

Sometimes I would cool the mixed beverage and refrigerate a cup pre-hand to increase the sudden buzz of stimulated energy it brings after the first couple of sips. I think it locks in the caffeine, inhibiting tiny molecules from escaping via the water evaporation, and therefore the extremity of its impact on the body as a stimulant, as the body otherwise becomes gradually accustomed to it; the senses association with it's stimulating properties, from inhalation of the steam carrying the molecules.

Every sip would give me a huge buzz, so conserve it lol. I'd get a overpoweringly strong bitter taste and a tingle through my limbs and spine as well as a shiver down my neck.

Did the trick lol.

As for the self consciousness with the shame of being absent from school with no excuse, for a couple of weeks, I resorted to a couple of sips of confidence. I diluted the alcoholic beverage with Orange juice as its bitter sweet overpowering taste also heightens the senses and alerts the nerves. But more importantly to inhibit the effects of the alcohol lol.

I don't drink alcohol otherwise. But I was really really uncomfortable with the whole situation. I just wanted to hide, let alone get my work done to please what is left to please of their expectations of me.

Keep all the lights on also. Bright as possible. I played loud pumped stimulating music - Drum and base. It also helped empower and motivate me with my work.

But my final thought would be, PREPARE!

Schedule your work, organize yourself, discipline yourself into contributing to your college work bit by bit, with intervals of leisure to keep your moral boosted and sense of satisfaction heightened.

It's so much easier if you just put a little time and effort into structuring a routine into approaching your work and deadlines :)

Otherwise, I will just finish off by adding, I hope you survive the night.

AND LEARN YOUR LESSON! Because I NEVER did! Lol.

Good luck :) - Hope any of that helped!

[Phoenix1991]

I don't really drink anything with sugar/ caffeine, or anything, Yet I'm always full of energy. I just always been that way, My best advice is never to turn off the lights and watch a show or Tv Show with episodes and have a marathon to help you shave time. Each episode is about a half an hour to an hour, those will kill time faster, especially if your hooked. If you can sit up or at least be someone up you won't get too comfortable OR! Talk to someone your really close to/ or want to get to know and have a lot of conversations.

[Phoenix1991]

That is a difficult one, If the next day you have class or work, you better make use of 5 hour energy or pray to god for a miracle cause those hours are going to go by slowly.

[mjc174]

I'm just like you when it comes to coffee. I find it too bitter at times and it tastes awful. But I found a coffee that I really like: Starbucks Skinny Caramel Macchiato (it's a bit pricey if you were to get it everyday): link . I love how it's not very bitter because it's not like regular coffee where you tell them how much cream and sugar you want. Instead they give you espresso shots by the size and the rest is non-fat milk. And the best part is the caramel drizzle on top-makes it a whole lot sweeter!

Another alternative that I turn too are energy drinks such as: Red Bull, Rockstar or Monster. I don't drink them all the time since they aren't so great for your health.

Also, I find that munching on things (almonds, dried fruit, etc.) help me stay awake in class. Try to choose something healthy since it will give you more energy compared to a bag of chips or a chocolate bar.

Good luck :)

[candlewax]

Energy drinks should never be an option

[candlewax]

Increase your food intake. Caffeine will make you crash even harder. Regardless, the body needs sleep and you can really mess yourself up if you go sleep deprived so much for so long. Try to at least get some power naps in to tide you over. But in the meantime, eat foods that can help keep the energy levels in the body sustained. Another natural energy boost is b complex vitamins.

Just do yourself a favor and avoid energy drinks and anything else with tons of caffeine. Energy drinks are just going to make things worse.

[candlewax]

Whoever down voted me is an energy drink addict.

[theydidntnameme]

Drink natural orange juice (simply orange is a good brand but I don't know what they have in Canada) it gives you a boost but doesn't make you crash like table sugar does.

One thing is don't take naps when you're done. Even if you have time to. Don't. It's like being really hungry, then after awhile your hunger goes away. But if you take a small bite of something your body will go crazy and you'll start feeling hungry again.

And the other thing is you just can't keep doing all nighters. Overtime you gradually build up like a sleep debt. (over time is the key word). I've been able to do all nighters and stay up in class all day afterward. But I don't do all nighters very often at all.. Hope that helps. :-)

[tjolivas]

I will either drink coffee, or on occasion a Monster. Monster really works, but it's not good for you so it isn't a permanent solution. I suggest a sweet creamer if you don't like coffee, it really changes the flavor a lot. I have to stay up for school too, I know it sucks, but try to find time to sleep. Even with all of my homework I make sure to try to be in bed by at least 1am so I get five or six hours. Still tired, but better than nothing you know? :P

[Longshot]

The short answer is not to do all nighters. They rarely work and they throw you off for a couple of days which makes the situation worse. Then you have to pull another all nighter to catch up. It's a bad cycle.

[candlewax]

Agreed. I always love it when I'm on break from school. Catch up on sleep.

[brunettebelle]

I have to be determined of how much work I want to get done but yes I have pulled off so many because of school.