How to Pull an All Nighter in a Shared Room

Last Updated: February 17, 2022

It's difficult to successfully stay up late when you have a roommate that you need to be wary of. Whether you're sharing a room at a camp, hotel, or even your own house, you need to know how to stay up with minimal noise.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparation

1
Prepare your space. To stay up all night, you're going to need a singular location that you can stay all night. Make sure you can stay here for long periods of time because any movement might disturb your roommate.
- Make sure your space isn't too comfortable, as that might cause you to fall asleep easily. Pick a place where you can sit upright, maybe next to a window or nightlight.
- Try changing the thermostat before you try and stay up. A cold room will cause your body to stay alert.
2
Get food/drinks beforehand. Get everything you'll need to eat or drink before your roommate falls asleep and keep them close to you. This will prevent noisy trips when you are hungry or thirsty.
- Avoid food that is loud or crunchy. Things like chips, crackers, crisps, etc can be very loud when they are chewed.
- Avoid foods that are prepackaged with loud wrappers. If you want any food in a wrapper, unwrap it before your roommate falls asleep.
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3
Charge up all of your devices. You're going to be staying up for a long time, so you'll need entertainment.
- If you're staying up to do work, make sure everything you need to do so is charged. It would be pretty inconvenient to work on something for so long, and then lose it because your battery died.
- Keep all your charging cables nearby. If you do start to get a low battery, you will not want to spend time scrounging around for a cable.
4
Get a good pair of earbuds or headphones. Noise is a great way to stay awake, but you still have someone in the room. Headphones will allow you to listen to music, watch television, etc.
- If you mainly use Bluetooth headphones, try to get a backup pair of earbuds. It's better for your body to be constantly stimulated by sound. Also, keep the charger for your headphones close by.
If you have the time, a nap will greatly help you in your quest to pull an all-nighter.
6
(Optional) Tell your roommate that you are planning to be up all night. Make sure they're okay with it.
- You might even ask them if they'd like to join in. Tell them if you're planning to work, and don't invite them to stay up with you in this case, as they might be a distraction.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Keeping your Body Awake with Minimal Noise

1
Make tiny movements with your body. Something as simple as toe-tapping or stretching can go a long way in keeping your body awake.
- You may have the temptation to get up and walk around, but try not to. Walking around is an easy way to wake up your roommate.
- If you're feeling stiff, do some stretches while sitting down. Raise your arms up high in the air, unfurl your legs and flex your toes, stretch wherever you're feeling discomfort.
- Try playing with Play Dough or slime to keep your hands busy.
2
Listen to loud, upbeat music. It's much easier to stay up with noise, rather than in complete silence.
- Avoid sad, slow songs. These songs might calm and cause you to feel more tired. Choose happy songs to listen to.
- If you're not a big fan of music, listen to an engaging podcast or television show.
- Turn up your volume as high as you can without your head or ears hurting. Also, make sure your roommate can't hear your music if it is loud.
You may be tempted to drink lots of caffeine, but that will cause you to crash the next day.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Keeping Yourself Entertained

1
Switch between multiple activities. Doing the same thing for hours on end can bore you, and cause you to feel more tired.
- Try switching up shows or movies that you watch. Changed genres often to keep yourself engaged.
- Even just switching what device you're using can make a difference.
- If you're working on multiple projects, don't spend more than one hour on a project at a time. To keep yourself engaged, switch between your work and take breaks if you're getting bored.
2
Use your devices. Using electronic devices is the best way to keep yourself awake. There are so many entertainment opportunities on your phone or computer.
- Watch television or movies on your phone/computer/tablet.
- Try reading a book or webcomic on your phone/tablet if you're not a fan of TV.
- If you don't have headphones, watch videos with subtitles.
3
Talk to people via text or social media. Engaging in conversations is a great way to entertain yourself.
- Use social media platforms like Twitter, Discord, or Reddit to talk to people and comment on their posts. Discord is especially good for talking to people about your particular interests.
- If you don't have anyone to text, try chatting websites/apps like Omegle, Chatroulette, etc. Talking to strangers can be very entertaining.
- Avoid talking on the phone or video calls. You talking out loud will disturb your roommate.
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Community Q&A

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Question

What if I want to read, but I can’t turn on any lights because my sister is a light sleeper? I’ve tried flashlights too and she still wakes up.

Community Answer

You might be able to use a Lightwedge. I use them on trips and they always work for me. Depending on how much natural light there is in the room, like moonlight, you might be able to let your eyes adjust to the light.

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Tips

Eat protein-rich foods to energize yourself.

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Turn up the brightness on your devices. The blue light will prevent any drowsiness.

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Wear your everyday clothes instead of pajamas to make sure that you're not too comfortable.

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Warnings

Staying awake can cause a wide range of health problems. Do not go for several days in a row without sleeping.

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If talking to strangers online, please exercise proper internet safety. Do not agree to meet with online friends in person without caution. Do not do anything you are not comfortable with (i.e. take inappropriate pictures, partake in illegal activity, etc.)

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Bothering your roommate when they are trying to sleep, or pulling all-nighters too often in a shared room can cause disputes. Try not to upset your roommate.

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In some camps or households, staying up late can get you in trouble. Please exercise caution when you plan to pull an all-nighter.

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How to Pull an All Nighter in a Shared Room

Steps

Preparation

Keeping your Body Awake with Minimal Noise

Keeping Yourself Entertained

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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