Snooze or Lose?

Many students, myself included, have stayed up all night to get an assignment done, or study for a test they should have prepared weeks earlier. The problem is that many people have an abundance of work from classes that don’t give ample time to complete these assignments, leading to all-nighters.

Despite the short-term rewards, however, pulling an all-nighter can cause a severe lack of rest and greater stress for days. While some may think that staying up to study for a test will help you, it will end up costing you.

Sleep deprivation causes people to have trouble remembering things, so it really isn’t all that good of an idea to start learning the night before. Many people often end up in a poor mood as a result of pulling an all-nighter.

“It also makes me moody to be honest, which affects my interactions at school,” says senior Jacqueline Vasquez, “I usually fall asleep in class the next day.”

“It severely impairs decision-making,” remarks alumnus Dilan Kaza.

Part of the issue stems from a large amount of work that can create stress and tension for students. Being exposed to blue light from electronic devices can keep you awake, disrupting your sleep schedule.

Fabio Reyna, a student with a rigorous class schedule, shares his experience.

“Normally, during the all-nighter, I feel more of a rush of adrenaline because I’m so desperate to finish what I have in front of me, but once I finish I feel a huge sense of relief, with all of my built-up stress and exhaustion finally hitting me the instant I close my computer.”

While it is clear that all-nighters are not beneficial to you, there are times when deadlines are due and there is no other option. In these cases, from London Metropolitan University recommends how to best pull one to minimize harming yourself.

Taking a nap on the day of an all-nighter is highly recommended so you can at least have some sort of rest before staying up for a longer period of time. Make sure to drink plenty of water, and take mini breaks throughout the session. There is also evidence to support that exercising before an all-nighter will help you stay active and retain information.

The best way to do your work is to space it out properly so you avoid all-nighters, as they are very detrimental to your health. Even if you prefer to work under pressure, it is best to avoid all-nighters since this will only harm you in the long run.

A good way to recreate the feeling of being under pressure is to create a deadline for yourself that is earlier than your real deadline, forcing you to work on it earlier. This is good, as even if you don’t finish by your deadline, you don’t have to pull an all-nighter since this wasn’t the real deadline.