How to Pull an All-Nighter
Next time you have a test on leitmotifs in Gravity's Rainbow, you'll thank us.
Up next in College Freshman Survival Guide (13 videos)
Hey, frosh: Check out the tips and advice in these videos.
You Will Need
- Index cards
- Gum
- Lavender or peppermint aromatherapy
- Coffee
- And a can of energy drink
Steps
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Step 1
Create flash cards
Create flash cards by writing a question on one side and the answer on the other.
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Step 2
Chew gum
Chew gum. Studies show it activates chemicals in the brain that improve short and long term memory.
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Step 3
Divide items to be memorized
Divide items to be memorized into chunks no larger than seven. That's the maximum amount of information the human memory can absorb at one time.
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Stand for part of your study time. Studies show this helps students remember 10% more material by increasing blood flow to the brain. Plus, you won't pass out on the couch.
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Step 4
Sniff lavender or peppermint
Sniff some lavender or peppermint, whether they're in candle, oils, or candy form. Studies have found that these fragrances help people stay awake and alert.
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Step 5
Don't drink too much coffee
Pace yourself with the coffeepot. Too much joe will make you jittery.
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Step 6
Take breaks
Take frequent breaks. Our brains are more likely to retain the first and last points of a study session, so lots of short study spurts are better than one long one.
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Step 7
Chug an energy drink
Chug an energy drink before the big test (or your first class). A study of graduate students found that those who drank one were more mentally sharp an hour later than those who didn't.
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Step 8
If you're drifting in class
If you find yourself drifting in a class, get up and go drink some water, or chew some more gum. You've done the hard part, so don't give up now.
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One study showed that college students need two to three hours more sleep than they typically get.
