So you procrastinated on a big assignment, and it’s due tomorrow. What do you do? Study all night, of course. Here are R&F’s tips for doing it in the most pleasant way possible.
10pm – 12pm: The average individual starts to get tired around this time, so it’s the ideal time to take a nap—no longer than 30 minutes, though, because it’ll be more difficult to wake up otherwise. Caffeine typically takes about 15 minutes to properly take effect, so if you plan on depending on coffee while cramming for your first block test, do it before you rest. You’ll wake up invigorated from both the caffeine and the rest.
1am – 3am: Sleep cycles are regulated by our circadian body clocks and determine when you’ll benefit the most from sleep. For teenagers, it’s around this time. Due to this impulse, you’ll start to get cold—but don’t turn up the heating, or grab a blanket, because it’ll only make you feel more tired.
Throw on a sweater or get a hot drink, but make sure it’s not caffeinated this time. At this point, it’ll only make you jittery. If you’re hungry, this’ll also be a good time to grab a snack. Carbohydrates and high-fat foods will slow you down, so aim for something more natural when you creep into your kitchen at this ridiculous hour.
4am – 6am: You’re in the final stretch now. Hopefully, you’ve saved the least difficult material for last, because you’ll be exhausted despite following these tips. As terrible as it sounds, this is probably the worst time for a nap, as you’ll slow yourself down right before your first class. Have something high in protein for breakfast, and wake yourself up a bit by showering or going on a short walk.
Disclaimer: These tips are definitely not medically-approved. You can’t cheat the deadline by skipping sleep and expect to function as you usually would. But by doing so with a plan, you might avoid some unpleasant side effects.