KatieAtlas

College is excruciating. At least sometimes. Thankfully not always.

Every college student must master the ‘all nighter.’ While some students are better than others at planning out their studying and eating and internet surfing, it’s downright essential that everyone completes at least one, if not five, each semester.

Given my propensity to wait until the last minute (I’m convinced I work better under pressure,) I’ve pulled more than I can count. (Then again, my mind tries to block out the memories.) Tonight, for instance, I pulled an all nighter. An all nighter can only be considered excruciating, God awful, horrible pain when you reach that time when the caffeine makes you lightheaded, especially when you tilt your head a little to the left, and you feel as if the only way you could possibly keep your eyes open is by physically peeling your heavy eyelids open with your thumb-and-forefinger crane. Other than that, if you have an objective, a decent attitude and all the right materials, you can’t go wrong.

First things first: make a shit list. Make sure to write “SHIT LIST” in big letters at the top, and list everything that you need to do before the sunrises, in order of importance. Include check boxes next to each item so that way you can track your own progress. It will also help you feel accomplished once you can tick off ‘Read 6 chapters of macroeconomic theory’ at five AM (several hours after you began reading.) Little moral boosters like this are key to organization and a successful sleepless party for one.

Every all nighter needs all nighter provisions. What kind of caffeine source do you have? While coffee is your best bet, at most colleges, the coffee shop does close for the night. Lukewarm coffee is gross, so make sure you have a back up if yours gets nasty. I recommend Coke Zero. None of the calories of regular cola and just as much caffeine. It won’t leave you shaking like Monster and other energy drinks. It’s also the cheapest option, making it great for sustained intake. Snacks are also key to all nighters. Screw your diet for one hot minute. If it’s sold in a vending machine, it is fair game. Snacks serve as a great motivational tool, and eating serves as a great way to reel you back in to your studies. Bring something and keep it handy for the two AM munchies. (It happens every time!)

You might not think to ask yourself “what am I wearing?” But this can make your all nighter all the more effective. Make sure you are comfortable. No pants that cut, shoes that make your feet ache, or distracting accessories like scarves. The less you have to worry about yourself, the better. Make sure you layer in case you break out in hot flashes from all your anxiety or the room is so frigid that you wonder if you’re inside a meat locker. The boy scouts say be prepared, and I tend to agree, at least when it comes to clothes.

Pick your spot. Make sure it’s familiar enough that you don’t want to explore, yet not so familiar that you know exactly where that TV is hidden and a great place to practice for the wastepaper basketball tournament. A clean space, with few distractions and a minimal level of noise is ideal. Extra points to places without internet access. That virtually eliminates all possible distractions! Remember- if you are going to stay up all night to finish something, you want to get it done! Picking a space is key to your success. Avoid bedrooms, friend’s apartments, cafeterias, and other high traffic/high distraction areas.

The most important preparation for your all nighter: bring all your books! If you think you could possibly need it for whatever you are working on all night, bring it with you. Trust me when I say that you are not going to want to walk a third of a mile through the cold to retrieve a notebook or file at 3:38 AM. The only way you’re going back to your room is to jump into that warm, inviting bed of yours. If you can show yourself you’re actually prepared, then you will help motivate yourself to work.

If all nighters were easy, they’d call them “You after a bottle of wine.” Okay, maybe not. But really, it is difficult to stay on track while pulling an all nighter. My solution: give yourself time to fool around. You can’t realistically work for 8 hours straight without stopping for air. Give yourself ten minutes here and there to check your email, blog, tweet, or buy more provisions. If you think you won’t get back to studying, bring an egg timer or set that obnoxious alarm on your cell phone to bring you back to reality and force you to get back to work.

This might seem a bit elementary. Why Katie, of course we should stay hydrated and focused and… wh-why would anyone wear pants that are too tight? Well, there’s one thing people always forget: college students are children. We really are. Tell us that there will be a cartoon marathon or that they are giving away free cookies somewhere, and we jump right on that shit. So, keep that in mind when you’re pulling an all nighter; the more basic logic you use, the better off you will be. So if I reward my inner child I will succeed? Uhm, yeah, something like that. Just try not to put yourself up against standards that cannot be achieved. If you think the ever dubious but always satisfying 8AM all nigher nap will do you good, then go for it. Sleep for ninety minutes before your first class. Kids nap. And I’ve never met a college student who didn’t love to sleep…