In eight days, this semester will be finished, terminado, fini, beendet. For most, it'll be done earlier. The problem is, for the majority of our classes, events in these next eight days are going to determine 25 percent or more of our grades. What may have been a good grade for 16 weeks can be ruined by one bad test or project.
In order to prevent those grades from tanking, many of us are going to be pulling multiple all-nighters. There are many different methods to making it through an all-nighter, but only a few ways to do one without crashing the next day or getting sick. The ultimate goal of an all-nighter is to complete a task and still be able to function the next day. In my three-and-a-half years on campus, I have become somewhat of an expert, pulling one or two all-nighters a week on average.
The first area of focus should be choosing a location. Many people pick the library to start their all-nighters. This is a favorite of mine as well. It isn't without drawbacks though. One major one is that when the library is full of people, the Wi-Fi tends to crash. There is nothing more annoying that slow or non-existent internet.
Another drawback is that the library can be a distraction. Any semi-social person can find at least one person they know in the library on a given night. The worst is the third floor, where quiet rules aren't enforced. If you're serious about getting things done, go up to the fourth floor where it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Speaking of distractions, don't go on Facebook! This is the easiest way to ruin your productivity. I have pulled all-nighters with people who've spent more time on Facebook than they have actually working and their grades have suffered because of it. Facebook will be there in the morning, and nothing exciting is happening at 4 a.m. anyway. Stay off of it.
If the library isn't your cup of tea or it's 3 a.m. and you've been kicked out, there are other places on campus to continue your all-nighter. The north doors of Robert Bell that faces LaFollette are unlocked at all times because there is a 24/7 computer lab in the building. The computer lab or any place within Robert Bell, the David Letterman Media and Communications Building, the Ball Communications Building and Art and Journalism Building can be accessed through those doors and they all are good locations to set up for the continuation of your all-nighter.
Of course, residence hall study lounges provide good locations, although you may be tempted to take a "quick" nap. Doing so could prove disastrous if you don't wake when you expect to.
The next decision is what food and drink to have with you. Food-wise, I'd suggest eating something heavy with carbs earlier in the day. It'll provide brain fuel. The more important choice is what to drink. Many people choose energy drinks like Monster. Although they do help you stay awake, it's a poor choice because of the high sugar content.
Instead, drink an energy drink like Red Bull, which contains less sugar, a 5-Hour Energy Shot, coffee or black tea. When you start to feel like you're crashing from too much sugar or caffeine, don't drink more. This will worsen the feeling. Instead, drink water. It'll help flush your system of toxins and keep you hydrated, two essential aspects to an effective all-nighter. Taking a few ibuprofen a couple times throughout the night will help with the inevitable aches and pains you'll encounter.
Another essential aspect to an effective all-nighter is your music selection. Everyone has his or her own preferences, so the following is just a matter of my personal opinion. I prefer to listen to things that don't have spoken words. This usually results in me turning on some Yo Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, techno or ambient music. Online sources like Pandora, Musicovery and Grooveshark all provide free music that can be enjoyed by anyone.
Make sure throughout the night to take mini breaks to get up and stretch your legs and get some fresh air. I usually take a 10-minute break every two hours where I will go outside, smoke a cigarette, make some more tea or refill my water bottle and stretch. Also use these little periods of time to do something not academic related. I usually look relax my brain by looking at My Life is Average, Texts from Last Night or similar comedic Web sites. Humor is the best all-nighter medicine.
If you want an extended break and are hungry, there are multiple places around Muncie open 24 hours. Sunshine Café is my personal favorite since they have decent Wi-Fi and there are always police officers there, so I know my car won't get messed with. Steak n Shake, McDonald's and IHOP are all open 24 hours as well.
My last major suggestions would be to allow yourself more time than you think necessary to finish your project and to stay relaxed. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and getting yourself worked up will wear you down quickly. If you're working on multiple projects, start with the most important first. This way, if you have to sacrifice finishing something, it'll be the project worth the fewest points.
At the end of the night, you should have enough energy to tackle the day and be happy in knowing you've completed something important as well as been successful in a feat of endurance. Plus you get to watch the sunrise, and how many college students can say that on any given day?
I wish you all the best of luck on your finals, and have a great holiday break!
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