University Graduates

Tips for overnighters from past University students?

I'm a first year University student. I know I should try to avoid to have to pull an overnighter in studying and getting assignments done. But it sometimes just can't be avoided. Any tips from past students or anyone that has stayed awake without sleep for an entire night? Sorry. Past or Present Students as well as anyone who knows about being up for extended periods of time.

Public Comments

1. Don't do it. Okay, I suppose you can, make you don't drink too much coffee (or do too much vitimen R) you'll lose your focus. You also need at least one REM cycle to help you remember things when studying, so don't pull the all nighter before an exam. Take 10 minute breaks every 45 minutes or so. If you find yourself tired the next morning, don't go to sleep. You'll throw off your sleeping pattern and find yourself up all night and sleeping through your classes. After the all nighter, stay up all day. Take a very short nap in the afternoon if you must and don't expect your day to be very productive at all.
2. 1. Don't do it unless you absolutely have too because you won't be awake enough to focus in class the next day. 2. Drink caffine if you must pull an overnighter.
3. As a dual major...I pulled many all nighters. If you can study with someone else; we had a group of about 5 who worked after classes and were forced to pull allnighters often. Working in groups helped keep us awake. If you have to study alone take many breaks to walk around for a few minutes to get yourself back on gear. It's tough to retain information when you're tired. Good luck! If I didn't have to work so much through college I would definitely not have all night cram sessions.
4. It depends on what your body likes better. Extreme amounts of caffeine is how people do it; however, different people respond differently to caffeine. Certain sources can really mess up your system and you'll be going to the bathroom a lot because caffeine does that (it's a diuretic). If you like coffee, then you might try that. Regular coffee is usually pretty cheap. Expressos and cappucinos (hot coffee) and frappes (cold coffee) are options, but are more expensive. The Starbucks Fappucinos from the gas station are always good (they're kind of like milk). Starbucks Double Shots are an option as well. Energy drinks are another method. The most popular would be Monster, Joker, and RockStar. These are bigger and have enough caffeine. They come in the pop variety (the one I prefer)and fruit juice variety. Eating might help too, but I actually wouldn't recommend it (eat only enough so you're not hungry) because you obviously can't get anything done while you're eating and you usually have to wipe off your hands before you start again so that you don't get doritos, etc. on your hw.