The Observer, April 14, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 24
Worst Case Scenario: Sleep, Lack of
It's warm outside; the birds are singing; the Cleveland sky is, for once, blue. Yes, this means that spring is here. But finals can't be too far behind. And even before finals, there's tons of time for some last-minute cramming and scrambling to save your plummeting grades.
So this week's column will deal with that which is the most popular of all Case nightlife: the all-nighter.
At some point or another during your college career, you will find yourself faced with a choice: camp out in the library and watch the sunrise from over your ochem book, or sleep to your heart's content and bring tissues and a big eraser to the test. Pulling one all-nighter is easier than it sounds – but what about multiple? I have put significant time and thought into this concept, and have arrived at the following conclusions that could make your next last-minute study session go almost as smoothly as if you had learned all the material the first time around.
Caffeine is a must, but so is water. Anyone who has downed a "Venti"-sized anything from Starbucks knows that caffeine can keep you awake, but it can also keep you running to the bathroom. Stay hydrated – it'll help stave off the feeling that you've been run over by a truck the morning after.
Remember the buddy system. Misery loves company, and having a study buddy can help you stay focused on the task at hand. Just don't get caught up with gossiping about the girl who sits behind you in religion when you should be making flashcards. Chances are she'll do better than you on the test if you do.
No matter how dire the situation, take breaks. And don't just take breaks to check your grades on Blackboard; get up and leave the room you're studying in. Eat something. Take out your aggression on innocent strangers minding their own business. Then, when you feel ready (or almost ready), hit the books again.
Of course, the obvious conclusion to this column is don't pull all-nighters; but sometimes, new episodes of Lost happen, and studying the night away is the only option. The only other option is to use my personal favorite excuse, "I have food poisoning" (food poisoning generally only lasts a few hours, buying you enough time to rest or cram more knowledge into your brain). So next time you find yourself faced with the fruits of your procrastination, remember these tips. Happy studying!
