I’d like to talk about a rather stressful night during my second year at university, when I had to pull an all-nighter for an economics paper. It was a module on macroeconomics, and to be perfectly honest, it was by far the most challenging subject on my course because it was packed with complex formulas and abstract market theories.
The main reason I ended up burning the midnight oil was poor time management. I'd had two major assignments due earlier that week, so I kept putting off my revision until the very last moment. Before I knew it, it was eight o’clock the evening before the exam, and I realised I still had about four dense chapters left to get through.
To stay awake, I set up a makeshift study area at my kitchen table, brewed a massive pot of strong black tea, and snacked on dried fruit to keep my energy levels reasonably steady. I also used a technique where I revised intensely for twenty-five minutes and then paced around the flat for five minutes just to keep the drowsiness at bay. My mobile phone was switched off completely so I wouldn't get sidetracked.
During the actual exam the following morning, I felt running purely on adrenaline. My heart was pounding, and my eyes were stinging from lack of sleep, but thankfully, a lot of the material I'd reviewed in the early hours appeared on the paper. Once I handed in the script, a wave of pure relief washed over me, though it was quickly followed by absolute exhaustion. I basically slept for twelve hours straight afterwards, and I promised myself I'd never leave revision to the eleventh hour again.