Post 88: How To: Pull an All-Nighter

Not another series, are you serious?! Yes, another series: a How To series. Series are important because there is always something to do. Just coming up with random unconnected posts can be difficult. The first post in my How To series is going to be a How To : pull an All-Nighter.

Disclaimer: I am not recommending you pull an all-nighter. Sleep deprivation can have seriously negative effects, including hallucinations, headaches, fatigue (obviously), etc. Sleep deprivation over 48 hours can even lead to death. 

So, with that said let's begin the late-nighter tutorial.

Step 1: Look at why you are going to pull an all-nighter.

• Are you going to be writing and essay/studying?
• Be prepared to take short breaks, too much studying and your mind might go into sleep mode before the rest of you does. 
• Are you going to be watching TV shows?
• Pick one that holds your attention and doesn't put you to sleep. It needs to be fast-paced and interesting, save the intellectual ones for the day lights hours, because it becomes harder to focus on them the later it gets and the more tired you become.
• Are you going to be playing video games? 
• Pick one that keeps you engaged. I would seriously caution you against trying to pull a Wii Mario Kart or Candy Crush all-nighter. 
• Are you going to be staying up for no apparent reason?
• Take a moment to think about why you are doing this to yourself in the first place. Did you not read my warning that sleep deprivation can lead to death?

Step 2: You need sustenance.

• Are you going to be writing an essay/studying?
• You are looking at finger food, my friend. Chips, M&Ms, popcorn, etc. Things that are easy to eat while typing, but not sticky or messy. It is hard to eat pasta or soup when you got to keep typing or you have to hold a book. Sugary substances are good as energizing bites. 
• Are you going to be watching TV shows?
• Popcorn is a classic movie/TV show watching snack. But, because it doesn't require hands more things are made possible. You don't want to eat anything too filling or all at once though. Big or filling meals/snacks will only make you sleepy. You are shooting for little bits over time to keep the energy flowing. 
• Are you going to be playing video games? 
• I'd say look back at studying/essay writing. You're still on the computer or holding something in your hands, so you need food you don't have to use silverware for that isn't really messy. 
• Are you going to be staying up for no apparent reason?
• You're a crazy person and the world is your oyster. Eat whatever you want. 

Step 3: You got your food, know let's talk drinks. 

• Are you going to be writing and essay/studying?
• I would recommend coffee or tea. They have caffeine to keep you awake, but don't have the sugar energy drinks have that can make some people a little nutty. The saner you are when writing that essay, the better. 
• Are you going to be watching TV shows?
• Energy drinks are what I would recommend. Mostly, because slow parts in TV shows or movies can be times where I start to doze and the coldness of energy drinks is a real pick me up. Also things just seem to be more interesting when you're on a sugar high. 
• Are you going to be playing video games? 
• I would recommend energy drinks or soda. They both have caffeine, and unlike coffee and tea, you are less likely to spill them. I say this because I tend to spill hot things. Also, coffee and tea are more calmly sipping over time. That doesn't really match with the video game mode. 
• Are you going to be staying up for no apparent reason?
• Pickle juice and soy sauce. Nothing is quite as invigorating as a shot of one of these. I recommend alternating every hour. 

Step 4: Still starting to doze?

This applies no matter why you are staying up, keep some things in mind that keep you awake. I have, in the past, gone to take a shower as a way to stay awake. What you do then is stay under warm water for five to ten minutes, then switch to ice cold. You'll feel plenty invigorated after being hit with that ice wave. 

Other things you can do are exercising. Stop what you are doing run up and down the stairs a few times. Do twenty jumping jacks. This will get your blood pumping and will help kick up your adrenaline levels. 

A good slap can help too, but really that is probably something you should only use as a worst case scenario solution. 

And there you go, that is everything I know about pulling an all-nighter.