There are many ways to cope with sleep deprivation, one of which is avoiding sugar.  One common misconception is whether or not coffee is beneficial when running on little or no sleep. Studies have shown that coffee does more harm than good when trying to stay focused due to its effect on your brain and body. The caffeine will stay in your system for a long time and can cause anxiousness and irritability. Often, humans are reliant on caffeine to keep them powering through their work, when in reality, there are many other healthier and efficient alternatives.

Ditch the coffee and drink lots of water. In order to perform to the best of your ability when running on no sleep, it is important to stay hydrated. If you feel yourself dozing off when you need to finish your work, drink cold water and eat nutritious foods such as eggs, beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Senior Malcolm Roesser said, “When it’s late and I need to stay awake and focus on my work, I eat an orange as a nice refreshing snack.” It is also critical to avoid sugar because like coffee, it gives you a temporary burst of energy causing you to crash shortly after, certainly not the best way to get your work done.

Along with hydration and health, a suitable working environment is key to remaining alert. Senior Jack Weyndling said, “I do my best work when I’m at my desk sitting upright in a chair with a nice sharp pencil.” Avoid working on a couch or a bed and find a desk or table at which to work. Also, try to stay away from dim lighting while working.

This may be obvious to some but in order to keep sharp, the best thing to do is to eliminate any and all distractions. Turn off your devices and tune out any additional disturbances — anything to make your study environment quiet and manageable will help.

Another study tip is to take advantage of your free periods. Junior Ellie Grueskin said, “For me, it depends if I have frees the next morning. If I have first or third free, I’ll just wait and do it then, otherwise I’ll just wait and plow through it and rush it.”

If you know it is going to be a long night and you still have a lot of work left to do, the best way to handle this situation is to give your body a break. Take a short nap (20-30 minutes) and start up when you are ready and sharp.