3:30 AM...who's up that late?

Ok so I'm still going strong now having switched over to a steady supply of Red Bull. However my secret weapon still hasn't been tapped into.

A few hints to you college students aspiring to be an all niter pro (you highschoolers shouldn't have to pull all niter)

First and always first while your still awake during the day try and write out a list of things you want to study and learn. This is huge at least for me as it keeps me from getting too distracted.

Second have an arsenal of keep me awake stuff ready. For you coffee drinkers just put a big black pot of the stuff on and keep it warm. For those of you like me who can't stand coffee grab some energy drinks. Also go out and purchase some energy shots my brand of choice is the 5 hour energy drink, these help you get past those really hard times when you feel yourself starting to crash and need to get back on track ASAP. WARNING tho, don't take too many of them just one every 4-5 hours. I get the ones labeled EXTREME 5 hour energy, may just be a gimmick but it works better for me.

Last keep A LOT of water around. I went through bottled water like crazy and switched to this huge Bretta water dispenser I keep in the fridge. Gives the water that great bottled water taste and does not cost nearly as much.

While your doing your study athon take regular breaks. If you get board studying like I go try and take a break every 1/2 hour at a 1:1 ratio. So 1/2hr break for every 1/2hr studied. Sounds like a lot of break, but remember you've got the whole night! Better yet if you use that outline of things I need to study you can simply check off things as you learn them and after you get to a certain point reward youself with a break.

Now to touch on some more well touchy stuff. A bunch of college kids now days use a drug called Adderall to do all nighters. Yes I've done this myself but I urge you to all consider alternatives. Obtaining Adderall from a friend is an illeagle transaction and if you get caught with it...big problems. Adderall is also known as speed, but for the most part everyone on a college campus calls it Adderall or Addy. It comes in many different dosages and in two main forms XR (time release) or regular. I've used both and the XR is a real bitch when I used it so I stuck to regular. If you are going to take the risk and use it BE CAREFUL! This is a steriod and a serious upper, don't combine any drugs your taking with it just to be safe that includes OTC drugs like Advil etc. espically anything that's a downer like NyQuil. You don't combine uppers and downers its just not safe.

If you are going to use Adderall be prepared for the consequences. Mild symptoms include frequent urination, diherra, insomia and jitteryness (yes these are the same for energy drinks but keep reading) more serious side effects like hearing voices, fast heart beat, viomiting, and even heart attack have been documented in rare cases. If you have a heart condiction (even something like a hear murmmer) don't take it.

For the most part all niters are the worst way to study for tests, but somtimes you just can't avoid them. Remember try and stray away from things like Adderall as they are dangerous and there's nothing illeagle about energy drinks or energy shots...or coffee for that matter so USE THOSE. I do and I get the same amount of work done and feel just as energized.

Next message, what to do when the crash hits.