Hey guys! Today I wanted to make a post on how to have the best all-nighter possible. Now, obviously I would not recommend making this a habit, but at one point or another, all of us will forget that we have a major exam coming up or procrastinate writing an essay, so these are my tips on how to best tackle them :)
1. Set-up your study space.
Pick a table or desk that you’ll feel comfortable in but won’t be distracted in. It’s best if you avoid using your bed or a table in a busy space, as you can easily get too comfy/distracted. Once you decide on your location, bring all of your supplies there. Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need.
Mug or bowl (to put supplies listed above in)
Calculator (if you’re doing arithmetic)
All of your textbooks you’ll be using
After you’ve gathered all of your supplies, write out a to-do list of every topic/assignment you need to complete. If you want, make it look fun with banners, arrows, designs, etc. Set up all of your supplies so that your space is clean and organized. Once you’ve finished all of this, you’re ready for part 2.
Make sure you’ve eaten something before you start your study session. Hunger will only make you feel sleepy and cranky. Once you’ve eaten, take a quick cold shower to refresh yourself and wake yourself up. Put on entirely new clothes (including bra and underwear) and make sure that they’re both comfy and breathable. It’s tempting to put on your favorite PJ’S, but wearing fluffy pajama pants and a huge sweater can make you really sleepy and a bit too relaxed. I personally like wearing a tank top with either pajama shorts or joggers, but really just wear whatever will make you feel relaxed but not tired.
If you have long hair, pull it into a high ponytail or bun. If you’re wearing make-up, wash it off. You need to feel alert and fresh.
If you are feeling a bit sleepy, make iced coffee by mixing cold coffee, cream, sugar, and chocolate syrup. Make sure you also have a bottle of ice water, a pack of gum, and a small snack with you while you study. That way if you get hungry, you have healthy snacks that will help you stay concentrated.
Find a playlist on Spotify or a Pandora station that will help you concentrate. I personally like the “Electronic for Studying” on Pandora and “Deep Focus” on Spotify.
Do whatever is the longest/hardest first so you can get it out of the way.
If you’re reading or studying for a test, the best way I find to remember what I’m learning is to use an index card or piece of paper, and summarize each paragraph into one or two sentences. Keep one extra paper for any key notes. Once you finish a chapter, read each card/paper out loud to yourself. Repeat each paper out loud 3 times and move on to the next chapter. Keep doing this until you’ve finished what you have to read. Once you’ve finished your reading, turn the notes you wrote into something creative. I usually choose a song, but it can be an artistic graph, a story, anything you know you’ll remember. If it’s song, you can even record yourself singing it and play it on repeat. This method is great for having fun while studying.
You need to be reminding yourself of how much you’re accomplishing, so set mini goals for yourself instead of one big one. Say for example, you’re homework consists of reading 2 chapters of Chemistry, completing 3 days worth of Geometry homework, and typing up a paper on Ancient Greece (I know it’s random). Instead of saying to yourself “I need to finish all of this in 4 hours” you should instead say, “In 1 hour I can finish Chemistry, then I’ll take a 15 minute break, then for another hour and a half I’ll complete my Geometry homework, then I’ll take a 20 minute break, and then for the rest of the night I can write and edit my paper, and then I can go to sleep!”. This mindset allows you to feel accomplished even if you don’t get to everything on your list. If you’re working hard, you’ve achieved something!.
DRINK. COLD. FREAKING. WATER.
Make sure that you’re drinking cold water!!! The coolness will keep you alert and the hydration is good for concentration/mood.
Chewing mint gum is important too. If you have a test the next day, try even chewing gum while you study, and then chewing the same gum while you take the test. The flavor will jog your memory and help you remember what you learned more quickly/easily.
If you find yourself falling asleep, do 10 jumping jacks and splash cold water on your face. Do what you need to to stay alert and focused.
Sometimes you can’t finish all of your homework. And that’s okay. If you were pushing yourself to do the best that you can, that’s all you can do in the end.
I’d recommend putting a time limit on yourself. By 3:00am, you need to stop working and go to sleep. Any longer and you’re doing more harm than good to yourself.
If you feel your head aching and your eyes are getting heavy, GO TO SLEEP. If you’re getting anxiety/panic attacks over your grades, stop working and take the time to calm yourself down. Your physical/mental health is more important than anything relating to academics.
Hopefully you’ve gotten at least 3-4 hours of sleep. If not, try to sleep whenever possible. On the bus, before class starts, anytime.
The first thing you should do is take a warm shower so you can wake yourself up and feel relaxed. If you have the time, pamper yourself a little and wash your face, style your hair some, shave, whatever will make you feel calm and fresh. For clothes, wear something comfortable if you can. I’d recommend leggings, a sweater, and boots.
EAT BREAKFAST. Seriously, this is so important. Make yourself coffee or tea as well, to give you an energy boost. Try eating something with fresh fruit if you can.
Don’t pressure yourself. You studied so much the night before, so only briefly review your notes. Don’t force yourself to repeat last night. Take deep breaths, look over your index cards, maybe listen to your song, and that’s all. You did all you can, and you’re going to do great!
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Thank you so much for reading this lengthy post! I hope you enjoyed reading this and that I helped you out in some way. I follow back all studyblrs! Have a great day lovely :):):):)
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