Bear in mind that coffee won’t keep you awake forever. Don’t overload on coffee, or you will become shaky and frazzled. Drink as much as you need to stay awake. If your family is likely to hear the popping sound when you open a drink or the sound of the coffee machine, you may want to buy some instant coffee to mix with cold water- it’s not exactly delicious, but it’s quiet and effective. If you don’t pull many all-nighters, a box of individually packaged instant coffees, like the ones from Starbucks, will likely do. These are also good to keep in backpacks, purses, wallets, cars, etc. for if you are dozing off when you’re out. If you pull frequent all nighters, you may want to buy a large container of inexpensive instant coffee and keep it in your room. Before you use it in an all-nighter, be sure you have something to scoop and stir with. If it’s possible that your parents will come into your room, don’t leave the coffee in plain view, as that may get you into trouble.
When you awake from your power nap, get up immediately. Don’t lie in bed, and don’t hit the snooze button. The longer you stretch the nap, the more likely you are to slip into sleep.
When you have trouble with a task, don’t keep torturing yourself! Do something else, drink something, eat something, do something different for a while and come back to the task later. Don’t stay in the same position all the time! It isn’t healthy to sit still for too long, and you may find that you tire out over time. Stand up, walk a bit, stretch – and you may be able to return to study with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
If you hear a sound, turn the lights off. Stop moving, and don’t make a sound. Be careful not to rustle your packets of sweets/candy. It will sound suspicious, and your parents (or your friend’s parents) may come in to check on you. Once your parents go back to bed, keep quiet for around 30-60 minutes as they can hear you once they have just gotten back to bed.
“I was just going to the bathroom. I’m on my way back to my room right now. " “I couldn’t sleep, so I was getting a snack to help me sleep. " “I thought I heard something moving around outside my window. "
