What do you do to keep up at night to study?

Asherah, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2007

No caffeine going on around here in the PM hours...that would be dangerous! I can't really offer much advice other than what's been given to me, which is try to actually go to sleep when you feel that what you're looking at or trying to retain is going in one theoretical ear and out the other. For me, its pretty much a waste of time to bother with trying to keep studying, and I actually benefit more when I get the needed sleep.

If you're definitely going to stay up late most nights, then at least go for the natural energy booster: regular exercise. Good luck!

GottaGetIn · Sep 1, 2007

I have a treadmill in the garage and might hop on there and run a quick mile when I need to wake up....Good for the waist line, good for the brains. :)

justme1972 · Sep 2, 2007

I don't. My mind won't absorb the material once I get completely exhausted, so I'm wasting my time. If I have alot to do, I do the critical tasks first requiring alot of thought...then when I get tired, I do "mindless" work such as making note cards, etc.

krenee · Sep 2, 2007

Is that the only time you can study? I think you should study when it's best for you. I'm a night person, so it's fine with me, but once I feel myself getting tired, I don't think I'm getting as much benefit, so I quit at that point. I'd say if it's that tough, study another time rather than relying on caffeine. Go to bed and get up early to study, that might work better.

Kelly

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2007

I'm surprised at how far I can push myself and how efficient my brain continues to be, LOL. I would have never thought I could do all-nighters and then go to an exam the next day and ace it. But I have. Several times.

Now granted, this is not a healthy way to function. This should be a last resort when better planning has failed for whatever reason. My only point is that when your will is strong, you can usually do far more than you would have ever believed.

So what kept me up all night during these all-night, never going to sleep study sessions? Not caffeine. Caffeine makes me sleepy. It bottoms out my blood sugar. The thought of not getting into nursing school because I got a B in the next day's class kept my eyes wide open.

If all else fails - picture yourself at the end of the semester - you know, when you are clicking on your school's online unofficial transcript page...seeing a terrifying grade. That is invigorating enough for me. Seriously.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2007

i find that a *starbucks venti cafe mocha with an extra shot of espresso does just the thing to keep me up for the next 24hrs straight if i drink it around 7-8pm.

im jittery for about 3hrs and cant sit still but at least im awake hahah.

JBGC4 · Sep 2, 2007

Haha. Well, I just wanted to thank all of you for your replies. Most nights my books open at about 10pm. This is b/c my hubs works until at least 7pm and my son goes to bed at 730-8. My two year old goes to sleep somewhere between 9-10. I need the caffeine. Exercise has always been an incredible way for me to energize but once I started school, spare time has been for studying only.

I think the best thing for me would be to wake at 5 to give myself some time before the crew wakes.

Multicullinearity (ms?)---hmm, yes. I will keep in mind how poopie it will feel to see a bad grade posted. And how AMAZING it is to see a good one when you have worked so hard to get it.

AprilRNhere · Sep 2, 2007

I went through ALOT of Mt Dew when I was in nursing school. I did all of my studying between 10pm and 2 am. It wasn't easy..but I kept going.

LaceyRN · Sep 3, 2007

:smilecoffeecup: Lots of coffee and music, of course, to keep me awake!

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Sep 3, 2007

Once I get to the make myself stay awak point it's useless, I won't retain one sentence, let alone an entire concept, some of the times I made myself stay up it had an adverse effect on my grade

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2007

I always found coffee to be the best trick in my book. But I really tried not to stay up all night, or late. My absolute line in the sand for sleep is about 130AM, and many days I am back up by 430 or 5AM. I try not to have too many of those days in a row though, good way to burn myself out.

I worked really hard at balancing my time wisely so I would not have to be up so late and sacrifice all my sleep. I also found late nighters did not translate into better test scores for me, in fact it was much the opposite. I use the same strategy today in my RN bridge program.