It's 1am, you've been at work for 16 hours and you're well aware that you're probably going to be there for another 8 hours. The joys of advertising! Of course the all-nighter isn't just limited to that particular profession, it doesn't matter what industry you're in, or whether you're currently studying, it's something that everyone of us will probably have to pull at least once or twice in our lifetimes. It sucks. But I've come up with a few tips that will help ease the pain (slightly).
Before
Put together an emergency kit
I have an "Oh shit, here it comes" all-nighter emergency kit in my draw at work at all times. Here's what it contains;
• A hairband – essential for when you need that rats nest out of your face
• A toothbrush and toothpaste – because at sometime during the night your bout is going to feel gross
• Face wipes – for when you feel gross
• A spray toner – this will do many things, wake you up, refresh and hydrate your skin
• A mini serum – just one of those little samples that I always seem to acquire and never use, adds hydration when my skin is feeling crap
• A mini moisturiser – as above
• Paracetamol – a given
• Deodorant – because, you know, you're gonna stink.
Dress for success
Imagine you're going on a long haul flight. You're going to be in these clothes for a long time, and depending on what you do, you're either going to be sitting down or on your feet for a very long time. You'll want to wear something loose and comfy, think the closest thing to pj's you can wear to work.
Cut back on the make up
Let's face it, by the end of your shift you're going to look like a dogs dinner anyway, so what's the point in fancying up? Don't get me wrong, I'll still put on make up before I got to work, but I like to keep it simple. I know that if I wear foundation I'll want to claw it off of my face at some point, so I don't bother. And no fancy liquid liner for me, as at some point it will probably end up halfway down my face.
During
Stay hydrated, not caffeinated
Now I love coffee as much as the next girl, and don't get me wrong, I'm still going to have my morning and afternoon fix, but what I'm saying is don't rely on caffeine to keep you awake. You'll just feel worse in the long run. The best thing is to keep hydrated with lots and lots of water. And maybe a herbal or decaffeinated tea in the mind of the night if you need something more comforting.
Have a good meal
Make sure you eat, and keep some snacks around incase you get peckish. You're gonna need that energy!
Be prepared to get snappy/get snapped at
Everyone gets grumpy after working long hours. It's late, you just want to be at home in bed and your so tired that you can't really figure out what you're doing. We've all been there. I've been annoyed because the woman I'm working with is asking me for something that doesn't makes sense and she's just repeating herself which doesn't help me. She's annoyed because she's asking me for something which makes perfect sense and I'm just looking at her blankly. We all get pissy, but that's ok, because we're all tired and we're all in the same boat. Don't take it personally.
Take breaks when you can
That kind of goes without saying, but getting some fresh air, shutting your eyes for 5 minutes can do you the world of good.
Spruce yourself up
At this point it's getting pretty late and you're looking and feeling..well…pretty rank I'm afraid. Don't worry, we all are, this ain't no fashion show. But now might be a good time to head to the bathroom, brush your teeth, apply some deodorant, wash, tone and moisturise your face. You'll feel better for it, I promise.
After
Get some sleep, but not too much
The first thought can be to jump into bed and not emerge for hours, but that can be dangerous, especially of you have work again the next day, as you can often wake up in the middle of the night after sleeping all day, not be able to get back to sleep and then feel just as bad. The best thing to do is sleep for a few hours, get up and have a lazy afternoon, stuff your face, watch easily watchable TV and then get an early night in.
Have a little pamper session
You deserve a treat! You've worked hard and your body's probably sore and your skins probably dehydrated and freaking out. Run a bubble bath and give yourself a good soak, pop on a hydrating face mask and relax. When you're done, smother yourself in body lotion, get in some comfy pjs and chill out.
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