Sometimes staying up late, or all night, can be fun or even necessary. Regardless of whether you want to go on a movie marathon or try not to doze off at a sleepover, let everyone who live under your roof know that you want to stay awake until dawn so that no one is caught off guard. Try to engage in some activities that help you not fall asleep, such as playing with the tablet, wetting your face with cold water and watching TV with a friend. It is even more important that you prepare your body before and after the sleepless night by allowing yourself extra hours of sleep and consuming healthy foods.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Electronic Devices to Stay Awake
Step 1. Have fun with a smartphone
If you don't have one, borrow one from your parents or another adult in your family. Phones are perfect for keeping you busy with games, apps, music and videos. Make sure you ask the cell phone owner's permission before downloading anything.
If you need to connect to the internet to play games, watch videos or listen to music, wear headphones or turn down the volume
Step 2. Use a tablet or computer
Ask your parents or other family members older than you for permission to use the tablet or computer. You probably already have some games or apps you like, but you might also ask them to help you find others to hang out with.
- Some apps are free, while others are paid. Do not buy anything without the permission of your parents or another adult.
- If you get permission to download something, you may need to know what kind of computer or tablet you are using. Some apps only work with a certain type of tablet, for example the iPad. Read the features of the game or app to make sure they are compatible with your device, and if in doubt, ask an adult for help.
- Use headphones in such a way that you can adjust the volume to your liking and avoid waking the rest of the family.
Step 3. Watch television or a movie
Whether you watch a movie on your tablet or a feast of an entire television series, choose something you like. Watch a comedy or horror movie that keeps your mind busy. If you watch a movie that you have already seen many times or one without action scenes, you may fall asleep.
- Plan ahead and ask your parents or another adult to help you download movies or TV shows for your tablet, mobile phone or PC. You could also ask for their help to record some shows if your TV has this feature.
- Use headphones to avoid waking other people living in the house with you.
Step 4. Play video games
If you have a console or can borrow one, video games can keep you busy all night. If you fail to pass a level, then move on to another game. The more nervous you get, the more likely you are to get tired and go to bed.
Borrow games from your friends or family to make sure you entertain yourself all night long. You may have completed all the games in your collection, but a new challenge could help you stay awake
Step 5. Listen to loud music
Make sure you use headphones when trying to stay awake to music to avoid waking the rest of the family. Listen to some kind of music that is fairly upbeat, as slow, quiet music could make you fall asleep.
- Create a playlist of your favorite songs that can give you a boost of energy during the day, helping you stay up all night. You probably need to find some music that can keep you awake and make you dance.
- Use an mp3 player, mobile phone or tablet so you can move around while listening to music.
Step 6. Set an alarm
To be safe, use an alarm clock when you want to stay up all night. If you feel like you're collapsing, set the alarm at half-hour or hourly intervals. If you don't have an alarm clock, borrow one from your family or friends.
- If you have a digital alarm, use the settings menu to adjust the volume, ring type and duration.
- The alarm system works because it stimulates a stress response in the body. Some alarms are equipped with the snooze function, which allows you to stop the ringer momentarily and reactivate it automatically after a few minutes. Although you wake up immediately after hearing the alarm, if you continuously press the snooze button your body will ignore its natural response, having the opposite effect.
- Test your alarm clock. Make sure the batteries are charged or plug it into the socket if it runs on electricity. If you borrow it from someone, ask them how to set it up and try it out with you to make sure it works.
Method 2 of 3: Staying Awake the Natural Way
Step 1. Get moving and try to be active
Stay on your feet and walk around the house, as studies have shown that a ten-minute walk offers a two-hour boost of energy. Physical activity brings oxygen to the brain and muscles. Be careful not to overdo it, because if you waste so much energy by moving too much you could get tired as your body will try to regain its strength.
When you feel tired, move. Bring some oxygen to your body and increase your heart rate to get a burst of energy when you realize you are about to doze off
Step 2. Take a nap
If you've had a long day or just feel too tired to stay awake, take a nap to recharge. It is best to rest for five or twenty five minutes. If you take a nap just before the time you usually go to sleep, you will not feel as tired as you normally would. Use this energy to stay up late.
Step 3. Rest your eyes
If you've spent many hours watching TV or in front of your cell phone or computer, your eyes will need a break. The dazzling light from the screen could put undue stress on the eyes. Take breaks by looking away from the screen and let your eyes relax.
Look out the window, take a walk around the house, and adjust the screen brightness to make sure you don't strain your eyes trying to stay awake
Step 4. Eat a healthy snack
Avoid foods rich in sugars because, although glucose can give you an immediate burst of energy, it could also make you feel tired immediately afterwards. Try some snacks, such as celery sticks with peanut butter, fresh fruit, nuts, or baby carrots.
Step 5. Talk to someone
Tell your friends or cousins that you are trying to stay awake, they may be willing to text or chat with you on the phone to help you. If you are dozing off, ask for their help and talk to them about any topic. As long as you speak, your mind will be busy and forced to keep you awake.
It would probably be more convenient to propose conversation topics in advance to make sure you always have something to talk about. For example, you can ask your friends to talk about a TV show, your parents to have a chat about vacation programs, and other family members to talk about the school
Step 6. Light up the room
Light can help you stay awake and focused. Only turn on the lights in the room you are staying in, as if you turn them on all over the house, your family members could be furious.
Step 7. Drink lots of water
If you are dehydrated you may fall asleep. Water not only keeps you hydrated, but it will also keep you awake because you have to go to the bathroom often. You could eat fresh vegetables and fruits that contain water, such as watermelon. You can also take a cold shower or wash your face. The cold invigorates you and helps you stay awake.
- When you wake up in the morning, drink a glass of cold water. This system helps speed up your metabolism.
- Fill a bottle with water and sip it overnight. Refill it if you drink it all and are still thirsty.
Step 8. Drink a drink that contains caffeine
If your parents agree, drink a caffeinated fizzy drink, such as Coca-cola. Some brands contain more caffeine than others. Energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and may not be suitable for teens.
Caffeine can be addictive, so if you're allowed to consume it, don't abuse it
Step 9. Think of a team game
Ask a family member or friend to wake you up over the phone or, better yet, stay awake with you. Having someone around to help you overcome fatigue will make you get through the night faster. You can play board games, watch some movies or just chat. Check each other out.
Method 3 of 3: Prepare Before and After
Step 1. Tell your family that you want to have a sleepless night
If they don't know you're going to stay up late, they might get scared and even punish you, or even worse, they might think you're a thief and call the police. Letting others know your decision may help if you fall asleep after the alarm goes off or in front of the television.
Step 2. Take a nap the next day
After a sleepless night you may be tired, so take a nap to catch up on some of the lost sleep. Rest for about 20 minutes, but not just before bedtime, otherwise you would have another sleepless night. You don't have to rest for too long, so set the alarm so you can go back to sleep at the usual time.
Step 3. Have a healthy dinner and breakfast
Staying awake all night takes a lot of energy. Eat a healthy meal of fruits, vegetables, and proteins like fish and chicken. This is especially important if you've been up all night munching on junk or high-carb food.
You should have a large breakfast of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, such as a cheese and egg sandwich. An ideal dinner to help your immune system regenerate in the absence of sleep is rice soup with colorful vegetables, protein-rich quinoa and a creamy dressing
Step 4. Indulge in extra hours of sleep
Your body is sleep deprived from losing an entire night, so you need more hours to recover. Make sure you plan your day to get an extra hour or two of sleep so you can get back to a regular sleep pattern.
Also make sure you get enough sleep the night before the sleepless night. The chances of staying up all night after not sleeping in the previous one decrease significantly. You will need a lot of energy to get through the sleepless night, so you need at least the usual amount of sleep the previous night
Advice
- Try a combination of things to keep you up all night. Don't expect to stay awake just by watching movies or talking to a friend. You will have to change activities many times to stay awake.
- Reading could help you stay awake but also help you fall asleep. If you find that you are about to fall asleep while reading, immediately switch to another activity.
Warnings
- Do this only on weekends or when you are on vacation. Staying up late can affect your performance in school.
- Don't use someone else's cell phone or computer without asking their permission.
- Do not download anything without the permission of your parents or other adult family members.
