I am really scared of pulling an all nighter. The next day after an all nighter my head is thumping like anything. I cannot concentrate. I cannot read a SHA. My brain is just lost. Given that we are in this profession, I don't think anyone in T1 can avoid all nighters or few hours of sleep once a month, especially in transaction teams. Can someone give some practical tips how to survive the next day? Thanks.

1) Go for power naps, if the environment allows.

2) Be on your feet - walking helps keep the sleep at bay.

3) Caffeine, caffeine, caffeine (along with high protein/carb food in limited quantity).

4) Try to set realistic targets for the day post all-nighter, and attempt to retire early. No job or SHA is worth having a brain stroke.

Take a deep breath and relax, we've all been there. Kudos to you for trying to deal with the situation than poke fingers.

There are no tips. Brain fog is inevitable after all nighters. Your body is isn't designed to function without sleep.

I find it more productive to just give up and sleep, and maybe wake up a little early to get work done. That way my mind fresh at 7am can do the work in say 2 hours, as opposed taking 8 hours from 1am to 9am with the all nighter.

Not proud to say but have had to do two all nighters back to back on more than one occasion. Always better to get at least 2 hours of sleep in between. Second day, eat carbs in multiple pockets along with espresso shots. Void sugar and keep hydrating. Frequent urinating keeps you busy and less prone to feeling sleepy. Towards the late end of day 2, try to work on a standing desk. Drinking cold water throughout also buys you a couple hours.

But all in all, not worth it. Day three is anxiety ridden and vulnerable. Get proper rest post and eat good warm food (I.e., avoid refrigerated food / cold pizzas). Warm showers. Recovery is equally important. Best to avoid alcohol on day 3, post the two all nighters.

My senior has a wonderful hack for this. During a diligence, we had to pull all nighters towards the end of preparing the report and she made sure I didn’t work past 3 am though she worked through the night (and day).

One day it got so bad and I was worried I was going to break down. She got the hint and asked me to leave all work and come out for a sweet break. We sat in the break room and had desserts for an hour, talked about non-work matters, and got back to work after that. It was the best break in my experience and we finished the report without any hiccups.

TLDR: take a break, have desserts, and get back to work.

What the hell is wrong with people treating this as normal and giving suggestions on how to come? I opine that you go with a deliberately swollen or sad face to the extent that people see this person will cry and give up (They should be concerned because it is eventually you who they'll need to do work)

Take time for yourself. Try to understand how your body works. For me, I never work past 1 am, I'll sleep no matter what. I'll sleep at 1 then wake up at 7 and do the work. I have found out that my brain does not work after 1 am, and it is better that I take some rest and then start working with good efficiency.

I remember pulling all-nighters and reading the same lines 5 times before understanding basic shit.

Both research and my own experience show that creatine monohydrate (preferably Creapure) supports brain function, esp. under conditions of sleep deprivation and mental fatigue. For those considering it, it typically takes about a month to fully load into your system if you take 3-5 grams daily in the morning (preferably with carbs - milk, juice, or water with a fruit like banana). You shouldn't expect any significant results before that. Personally, creatine monohydrate helped me get through years of sleep deprivation with at least some level of brain functioning. But beyond a point, it won’t be enough. You can push yourself for 2–3 years, but eventually the system breaks down and mental health starts to spiral (depression, insomnia), and physical health gets even worse. While mental health might bounce back within a month with the right treatment like Antidepressants and anxiolytics from a psyciatrist, recovering physical fitness can easily take a year, even with the best supplements and training. Also a kind suggestion, caffeine in a long run is very harmful, esp. post afternoons, so choose the alternatives, do not smoke or drink if you do, that also helps.

All in all, jobs and the rat race take away the best years of your life, spent sitting at a desk. Sometimes I really wish I had been born in a village with farmlands, doing nothing and just living in peace.

Sorry for oversharing, just got sentimental while writing this. I was thinking about it last night too so got a bit relatable.

Does your partner/PA/SA let you work from home post 1 am for the all nighter day or are you in office? Asking because I don’t know.

If partner/PA/SA is in office I get it , otherwise I think it is okay to go home and work and grab a quick nap. Is this what most people do?