Sleep in the night before. If you wake up around 8:00 or 9:00, you’ll be less tired when it’s time to start really staying up. Try not only waking up really late but going to bed a bit late the night before. If you go to bed at nine at night the night before, your body will start getting tired around that time. If you can, take an extended nap a few hours before you plan to stay up. This will give you an extra boost of rest and energy. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
If you get really tired, you can take a quick nap during your all-nighter, but for no longer than 20 minutes. If you take a longer nap, you might sleep until morning! Be sure to take out your contacts if you wear them, since leaving them in could harm your eyes and prevent proper sleep.
Have a big, healthy breakfast. Eat healthy carbs like oatmeal or wheat-based cereal, proteins like lean turkey or ham, and some fruits and vegetables. Add a yogurt or cottage cheese to your meal. Have a healthy lunch. Eat a sandwich with wheat bread, a hard-boiled egg, or a big salad with avocado, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Whatever you eat should give you a boost of energy without making you feel sluggish. Eat the right dinner for staying up all night. This will be the last meal you eat before you prepare to stay up all night, so make it count. Avoid greasy or fattening foods that will make you feel bloated or heavy. Instead, eat some chicken or turkey, couscous, whole grain pasta, fruits, and vegetables. Make sure you have some carbohydrates for energy, and some proteins like soy, chicken, or ham. Avoid heavily caffeinated or sugary foods. If you drink coffee all day or eat sugary snacks like candy, then you’ll be crashing and ready for bed after dinner.
Some healthy veggies. Carrot sticks and celery are a great snack that won’t make you tired. You can even eat the celery with a bit of peanut butter. Some healthy fruits. Apples and bananas are easy to carry and will keep you energized. Some nuts. Almonds, walnuts, and cashews are a delicious and nutritious form of protein. If you’re staying at home, make sure you have some chicken, tofu, or turkey in your fridge, as well as some healthy pasta or couscous that you can cook in a pinch.
Stretch. Stretching your forearms, calves, and wrists will make your body feel more active and less tight. Roll your shoulders backward and forward and circle your head from side to side. Give yourself a quick hand massage. Tap your foot on the floor. If you’re really falling asleep, pinch yourself or bite down on your tongue. Gently tug your earlobes. Chew gum or suck on a mint to keep your mouth active. If your eyes are getting tired, rest them out a window or gaze in a new location. Stimulate your senses. Turn up the bright lights and play some medium-loud music to jolt your senses awake. Try keeping music on in the background. If it has a good beat, you may find yourself naturally tapping your foot to the tempo.
Pay attention. Notice everything that’s going on around you, and ask questions if you don’t understand something, like a section in your textbook that is unclear to you during a study session. Strike up a conversation. If you’re in the middle of a cram session, it’s easy to keep talking to the people around you. If you’re at home and struggling to stay awake, call up a night owl friend or having a quick conversation with a friend online. Stay engaged. If you’re watching a movie, ask yourself questions about it to make sure that you understand everything that’s going on. Don’t let yourself drift off. If you’re watching television or having a conversation, make sure that you’re focused on the task at hand instead of daydreaming.
Looking repeatedly at a clock may distract you from your work. Taking breaks is especially important if you are working on the computer; it will help prevent headaches and eye strain.
Switch tasks every thirty minutes. If you’re watching a movie at a sleepover, take a bathroom or snack break from time to time. If you’re cramming for an exam, switch from studying your notes to using flashcards. Switch up your environment. If you can change your environment, it will be easier for you to stay stimulated. If you’re cramming for an exam, move to a different part of the library or your dorm. If you’re at a sleepover, just try getting everyone to hang out in a different room from time to time. Hang out in a different part of the same room. If you’re nodding off at your friend’s New Year’s party, just move from the couch to the kitchen and keep talking to people. If you have to keep sitting down, pick a different seat.
If you’re at a party, take the stairs to the upstairs bathroom instead of using the one that’s more conveniently located. Take a ten-minute walk outside or even inside to wake up your senses. If you’re alone in your room, just do thirty jumping jacks or run in place for two minutes.
Choose a movie with a subject that actually frightens you. It would be pointless to watch a movie about giant spiders if you like spiders. If you can’t find a scary movie, consider watching a real-life documentary on a terrifying subject instead.
Start off with a cup of black tea. Its side-effects will be less intense than the effects of coffee. If you’re already a big coffee drinker, have 2 or 3 cups. If you’re really desperate, drink an energy drink like Mother, Monster or Red Bull.
Avoid eating a heavy meal the evening of the all-nighter. This will leave you feeling lethargic and sleepy. Eat a light, healthy meal, such as a stir-fry. Avoid alcohol, as this depressant will make you sleepy. Try to have some kind of protein when it’s time for breakfast, because protein is a good long-term source of fuel for your body. [15] X Expert Source Ted Dorsey, MAAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 11 December 2019.
Eat a hard-boiled egg or quickly make an egg sunny-side up if you’re at home. Eat a handful of almonds, cashews, or pecans. Eat a crispy apple, celery, or carrot sticks. Just crunching into these foods will wake up your mouth and will make you more alert. Bananas are great for all-nighters because they keep you awake for longer than usual and give you a great source of Vitamin B1 and potassium. Have a piece of toast with a little bit of peanut butter. If you’re craving a fourth meal, try to have a healthy carbohydrate like brown rice and protein like turkey. If you can’t avoid ordering out, try picking foods that aren’t too greasy or fatty.
If others are sleeping around you, clearly you’ll need to keep the level of the music low. Use earphones if necessary.
Placing pressure on the tip of your ear can relieve pressure in your back and shoulders. Pinching the upper-middle part of the ear can help to relieve pain in your joints.
Drinking lots of water will make you have to go to the bathroom often. This can also help keep you from dozing off.
To remain healthy, never stay awake for 2 whole nights in a row. Pull an all nighter as infrequently as possible.
“I am almost done!” “This is actually not too hard. " “I will get to see the sunrise. " “I will get a good grade. " If you find some of the material boring, try to talk yourself into liking it by repeating something to yourself like “this passage about DNA is fascinating. " Don’t underestimate your power to trick yourself. [19] X Expert Source Ted Dorsey, MAAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 11 December 2019.
Having rewards is like the carrot on the end of the stick; they will motivate you to keep going, despite your tiredness. Make sure that you set the rewards before you begin. This way, your mind will anticipate them.
Download an application that blocks distracting websites, such as SelfControl. You could set your cell phone to Airplane mode, rather than turning it completely off, so that any incoming messages will be blocked until switching it back into its normal mode.
Not everyone improves their alertness in cold air. For some people, it works the other way around; warm air causes them to stay awake and the cold makes them fall asleep. Choose whatever works best for you.
If possible, work somewhere far away from your sleeping area or bed, so that it’s an effort to try to go back and sleep. Try to be around people. Knowing that others may be watching you may motivate you from sleeping in your chair.
Try sitting in different places around the room. Don’t lay in bed with your eyes closed. You will fall asleep, falling into a crazed dream state in which you convince yourself that the work has been done already.
Sometimes it’s better to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep, rather than being in a complete daze the next day.
