As we fall further and further into the semester, teachers seem to think that giving you two tests, a paper and twenty chapters worth of homework is reasonable. Do they not know we have other classes too?!
Regardless, I know I always fall into the habit of at least one all-nighter a week to keep my weekends relatively free for other fun events. My all-nighter routine has been perfected thanks to tons of research and experience and I'm here to bring it to you.
First of all, prepare in advance. Be social and get a good nights sleep the night before your all nighter. You'll feel better when 11pm rolls around and you see all the photos from your friends hanging out knowing that you got to do that the night before.
Second, pack a bag. You never know what you're going to need so take it all. Don't think you need an umbrella? Think again. What happens when you're trying to go home at 5am and it's pouring? Also make sure you pack instant coffee, a blanket, snacks, powerade, every highlighter you own, your Lilly planner, all your textbooks, notebooks, your laptop, your iPad, a pair of headphones, a second pair of headphones for when your first pair mysteriously disappears or for when a sister comes and asks to borrow some, a headband, a hair band, a hair clip, bobby pins, a watch, your phone, every charger you own, a power strip, chapstick, tissues, lotion, a sacrifice to the study gods and some motivational quotes.
Third, schedule out every second of the evening.
- 8:00 - Show up to the library
- 8:01-8:19 - Find the perfect study spot
- 8:20-9:03 - Unpack and organize all of your study supplies
- 9:03-9:45 - Take a look at social media before realizing you haven’t actually done any studying yet
- 9:45-10:30 - Study your first subject
- 10:30-10:45 - Take a lap around the library to see who else you know there
- 10:45-11:00 - Decide to relocate to where your pledge sisters are sitting on the 1st floor
- 11:01-11:40 - Repack and unpack all of your study supplies
- 11:40-12:15 - Get distracted by Pinterest when you thought you were only there for 15 minutes
- 12:16-1:00 - Study your second subject
- 1:01-2:30 - Stalk all of your sisters’ boyfriends to decide who has the best looking friends for a semi-formal blind date
- 2:31-3:26 - Cry about how you are #foreveralone
- 3:27-3:30 - Freak out about how you have class in 6 hours and have two hours left to study in order to get a 3-hour nap
- 3:31-5:00 - Study subjects 3 and 4
- 5:01 - Walk out into the early morning feeling unproductive and completely exhausted
Fourth, go to the house and fall asleep until 11, effectively sleeping through two of your classes from the day.
Last of all, make sure you tell absolutely everyone that you are so tired from pulling an all-nighter so they will feel bad for you and buy you Starbucks.
Good luck with your all nighter!