Most of us have been here before. It’s 4 a.m. on a weekday. Your mind is fixed on completing the multitude of assignments splayed before you. However, in the back of your mind, you have common sense telling you to settle your academic scores after a few meager hours of rest.
Do you soldier on and endure the following day with far less than adequate energy to fulfill any task with zeal? Or, do you succumb to your practicality and snuggle up for the remaining portion of the night?
All-nighters are almost entirely unavoidable in a student’s college career. Some stay up late because they have a knack for leaving their homework to the last possible second. Others feel the constant need to stay ahead and sacrifice their recommended eight hours of sleep to maintain a steady homework flow.
Whatever the reason, we’ve all done it; and we’ll all continue to do it. On that note, it’s better to go into these overnight study sessions with some clear ideas of what can really keep us awake and absorbed.
Tasha Nguyen, a chemistry sophomore, says she was unfortunate enough to require an all-nighter last week in preparation for her classes. “I had a lot of sugar, but no caffeine. I did need coffee the next day though and good music too.”
Students know that there are select techniques that can be used when preparing to not only stay awake all night, but also be focused and coherent enough for it to be worth your precious time.
Our first instinct is to load up a new pot of coffee or to head to the corner store to stock up on Red Bull. While psychologically this makes us feel like we’re revving up for some serious study action, in all actuality it’s setting us up to crash and burn.
Large amounts of caffeine and carbs should be avoided. Naomi Rockler-Gladen wrote for Campus Life @ Suite 101, “Protein will give you a more consistent source of energy without the crash … When you work out, you need to drink water for stamina. Same with your study session." So, the next time you find yourself tucked into a corner in Hayden Library at 3 a.m. try reaching for the aqua, not the java.
To maintain focus and make the best of your all-nighter, keep your phone out of sight and stay off Facebook. The thought sounds abhorrent, I know. But, it truly is for the best. Sam Coren of Student Advisor.com wrote, “Some students even go as far as temporarily blocking certain websites from their browsers because they know how hopeless they are. If your work doesn't require the Internet for research it might be a good idea to disable your wireless.”
Frequent naps and establishing a go-to study spot are also important to sustaining your energy and focus through the night. Keeping these tips in mind, let us go forth into the semester. We may be sleepless, bleary-eyed shells of scholars, but we will be well hydrated and full of knowledge.
Reach the columnist at ebeckley@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
