Discussion Tips for Pulling an All Nighter

First, check if your disposition is compatible with an all-nighter. Not all people can successfully pull one, even with all the tips in the world.

Be it or be it not, my first tip would be to follow an schedule that suits both you and the work, with scheduled breaks and scheduled changes in focus. The specific makeup of said schedule shall be dependent on how your mind and body work, but if you always fall asleep in the middle of it, the first thing I would suggest would be doing less in more time, and if you need time, to start before.

 

Get some sleep in the afternoon or evening if you want to pull all nighter,,
You fell asleep because you need it.

 

First off,don't pull off all nighters too often.Your body just cannot handle it.Then,when you do pull off the all nighter,the drinking coffee or eating apples idea works.The cold water shower/face wash also works.Personally,I also use pain tactics.
EDIT: Sometimes,your body is not fit for all nighters...

 

1. Coffee.
2. Cold shower.
3. Put your legs in a bucket of cold water.
4. Don't masturbate (I always fell asleep shortly after masturbation during my exam all nighter).
5. Do a few warm up exercises periodically like every 30 minutes.
6. Don't lie down, don't go near your bed, and sit your ass in your chair.

 

Cold. Being cold keeps me awake. Fruit and water. Don't eat or drink anything else. Coffee and Energy Drinks will only exhaust you once they wear off. Fruit gives you lasting energy and keeps you from feeling full. Its hard to sleep if you're hunger still has an edge. Stand up and exercise every once in awhile. Nothing much, just stuff like 10 situps, pushups and pullups. And no bed or lying down.

 

Prepare a few bottles of water, a few batch of your favourite materials, a good environment that best suits you, and that's all. You're ready for action.

 

Don't masturbate.

 

1. If possible, prepare a standing workspace for yourself - it's rather difficult to fall asleep standing up.
2. Keep the room well-lit. Really, the more light the better. A desk-lamp alone is far from enough.
3. Take short breaks to exercise a bit. Do some squats, a few push-ups, maybe some jumping-jacks. Whatever that makes your blood flow*.
4. If it's warm outside, keep the window open, if it's cold, open it for a few minutes once every 90 mins or so. Fresh air is your friend.
5. Choose some good music to listen to. Preferably, lyric-less so you don't catch yourself singing along instead of focusing on your work Also, don't keep the music on the entire time, otherwise you'll get weary...

*Better not try watching porn, it'll just make you horny and distract you even more

~Edit~

6. Prepare snacks, sugary or spicy ones.
7. As a precaution, set your phone to ring every 90mins to make sure you don't fall asleep.

 

Ambition. You'll also need to find out what are your limits and how you can 'play' around them.

Here, some 'guidelines' - https://www.quora.com/topic/All-nighters .

Pulling all-nighters isn't good for your health.

 

1. Drink Coffee
2. Drink Coffee
3. Drink Coffee
4. Drink Coffee
5. Lastly, drink more coffee.

 

Yeah, I've noticed that but I haven't managed a single successful all-nighter, even with normal days in between. Just one all-nighter probably could of lowered my work to manageable levels, but without that I had to keep trying to finish everything. In the end though, 3-4 hours' worth has gone past the point of no return. At a week overdue it's not worth the effort anymore

Numbers 1 and 3 aren't realistic for me, but why is the 4th even a thing . I can't even imagine doing #4 with a mountain of work staring down at me.
I'll try 2 and 5 next time though, so thanks for those

Shouldn't warm air put me to sleep? I usually make the room as cold and windy as possible before getting to work.

Thanks for the link

Yeah, maybe I'm just not compatible. I used to do them easy, but it's been years since then...I wish I could of done more earlier, but I was working straight from the morning for the last couple weeks or so

Lol, that's a new one. Unfortunately, my apartment doesn't allow pets, but are cats that bad?

 

Good suggestions (if you just need to get something done and don't want anything extreme):

• Extreme temperature. If your normal temperature is around X degrees, make sure you're about 5 degree Celsius (or 10 in farenheight) away from that. It will get immensely more difficult to fall asleep, but you'll still be able to work.
• Exercise. If you do aerobic exercise you'll have about 2 hours of good wakefulness and 4 of not being able to sleep after it, especially if you're active. Running for half an hour, push-ups or curls for a similar amount of time, even gymnastics like hula hoop or jumping jacks. Anything to get the heart beating hard, for a long time.
• Standing rather than sitting. Discomfort helps, and this is a mild version.
• Eating every 4-5 hours. A balanced, healthy meal preferably, but not too much either. More than a snack, but not quite a full meal.
• Bright light. Darkness helps us fall asleep, so turning the lights up certainly keeps you more awake.
• Loud, irregular music. Hip hop is excellent for this purpose; very few people can fall asleep to it. But make sure it changes constantly so you aren't dragged into a repeating beat. Headphones for the lound part, rather than speakers, if you're trying to be nice.
• Scents. Smell is a very potent sense, and certain aromas such as that of fire keep us awake. Though be careful with this one if you don't know what you're doing.

Extreme suggestions (don't use unless desparate):

• Stimulants and drugs. Even caffiene can mess you up if overused.
• Flashing lights and irregular loud noises. Specifically designed to make sleep impossible, but harmful if overused.
• Pain. One potential method would be to stick a tack in your shoe's heel and wear it. Every time you relax it will stick you, so you will be literally kept on your toes. This is at once the most effective, and most dangerous, method. Hurting oneself is never easy or wise.

 

I appreciate the good suggestions section, but I don't do caffeine or drugs and I'm not in the interest of using torture methods on myself...so does this mean hunger doesn't help you stay awake? I usually end up neglecting my meals when I have to work through the night.

 

No. It makes you weaker; the less you eat the earlier you usually go to sleep. You get up earlier in turn, but that isn't what you wanted now is it?

 

Why aren't #1 and #3 realistic?

 

I don't have space to store a coffee maker or bucket

 

Set an alarm for every thirty minutes, and do a few rounds of physical exertion then; 20 push-ups/squats/chin-ups.

I find that it works.

 

What I meant by "warm" was about 15-18C. That should in no was put you to sleep.

 

it actually works somewhat, but man its so painful after that 1 hour or so nap...

as for the OP;
listen to TKA and drink green tea...

 

When I need too pull an all nighter I try to take a nap (25 to 40min) before, and as soon as I wake up I drink very strong coffee (or/and a caffeine tablet).
While working, I drink lots of liquids, and from time to time something with caffeine or taurine, like coffee, Redbull, Green tea or Terere. If you are in a country with it, try getting some guarana powder too, but don't drink it with coffee or other energy drinks, it gets really strong and you my have a heart attack.
During the work don't eat your fill. You can eat a little after a few hours, or have a candy from time to time - sugar intake helps -, but a full stomach will make you sleep.
Stop taking energy drinks or substance around the end of the work (70% of the work ready or 2h before the intended deadline).
After the work is completed try sleeping at least a little.