"How can I be wasting time doing nothing, when there are so many cartoons to see?"
...I often thought as a kid. I wondered, then, of what essence sleep was when I was practically going to be idle and time wouldn't stand still.
At that age, all I ever wanted to do with the time I was supposed to be sleeping was either play video games or watch cartoons like Ben 10. I was literally a "Ben 10 and his adventures" professor. I was a nerd in that regard, so much so that my classmates and even some teachers at that time called me Ben 10. Why? They often found me drawing alien creatures, Ben himself, and the like from the cartoon series itself. I was actually really good at drawing.
But I digress...
You know now that I wasn't much of a sleeper as a kid. But now...oh my lawd. The whole world could be on fire, and I'd be dreaming about that new Playstation 5 I just got. I wish. And then you'd think I had transcended to the great beyond, never to return. But my God is bigger than my enemies. I shall return, but at a time most convenient for my body.
Now, this isn't to say that Joe has now metamorphosed from the worst sleeper in the world to the best sleeper in the universe. I am quite a deep sleeper, sometimes most times, but I am not one to sleep for long. It could be 10 minutes, but 10 minutes of intense hibernation.
However, this does not mean I cannot stay awake for a purpose that's necessary. Mind you, "necessary" could mean anything; it could be watching movies, playing games, or sometimes studying. I am quite a spontaneous individual. And as a student at the university, I have had to develop kung-fu skills to combat sleep. Although, in the end, we all know nature will always take its course. But stay with me, will you?
Joe's midnight escapades
Like I established earlier, my reasons for staying awake could be anything I deem necessary. And first things first, you should know that I love to see films—a whole lot! Heck, I write weekly reviews of movies I see, whether I like them or not.
I can spend the whole night following some addicting series, so much so that I could shift aside other things I have planned, provided that would not have serious repercussions (I still think with this head, you know).
I could be so engrossed in seeing how it all ends or plays out. And this is particularly so for films like Edge of Tomorrow, or even something vastly different like The OA. But enough about films.
Another thing you should know is that if I were to be your neighbor, you may need to call the cops every night. This is because I will disturb you often with my guitar. Not that I do this intentionally (more like that, actually), but it is really hard not to want to use my guitar amp when we have power.
I used to spend a lot of time playing the guitar, all night even, but now that I often have a ton of work to do on most days, I end up feeling pretty exhausted and do not spend as much time playing the guitar. But I assure you, the spirit can kick in anytime.
Now, let's get a little serious, shall we? Yes, please
I take my academics seriously, and I have been doing so for years now. My studies are one part of my life I do not joke with. I am doing great, and to keep it that way, I'd need to keep studying.
Although it is really challenging to keep it up every semester, letting go of what I have built really isn't something I can opt for. And this leads us into my study lifestyle.
You see, staying up all night isn't something I like to do. In fact, I don't think sleep deprivation is something that many people fancy. It's natural. And we'll always feel the need to sleep. But when it comes to spending the whole night reading, I can be a little extreme, if you'd call it that.
I find the nighttime to be a very convenient time to have minimal distractions, and I mostly seek for that time when exams are near. I just have to keep my mind prepared.
However, keeping my mind ready is not always enough. I'd have to make some sort of ritual drink... just kidding... a carbonated drink with mostly Mirinda (for its sweet orange flavor) and dry coffee. That usually knocks the sleep away for as long as necessary. Oh, and it feels good when it's cold.
 Pouring |  ..the coffee |
 Joe's... |  ...brew |
It comes with side effects, sure, but mostly when I do it for a few days in a row. I once overdid it, and I had to beg my maker to grant me a few hours of sleep once more. I was in dire need of sleep as I was mentally breaking down, but I couldn't find it.
It's my final semester in school. I am not sure if I would actually employ this approach again. It's not unsafe (I think), and I am not sharing any tips here, but there you have it—one way I force myself to stay awake and the things I do late at night sometimes.
ℍ𝕖𝕪, 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥, 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕘, 𝕠𝕣 𝕦𝕡𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖. 𝕀𝕥'𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕.
