Three Thoughts on Why All-Nighters Are NOT for Me
I’m always amazed when I hear other online marketers talk about how they’ve been up all night working tirelessly on a project or launch. Me? No way. Even if I was up against a deadline, I’d find a way to work around it creatively so I did the minimum work needed or I’d simply extend the deadline. I’ve never stayed up all night (except to party as a college student) and I’m not going to start now. 
And outside of the fact that I’m a mama and my kids/family are way too demanding for me to pull it off, here are 3 thoughts on why I don’t do all-nighters:
Productivity goes down the tubes when you’re tired. Minds tend to wander, mistakes get made and less work gets done. I know that ultra-successful individuals like John Reese frequently pull all-nighters and not that I’m qualified to give him any business advice, I bet he’d fare better with a more regular sleep pattern. Plus, he doesn’t have kids jumping all over him for breakfast, help with art projects and more. 
The next day is a write-off. After a sleepless night, the next day is a complete write-off. Either I’d be sleeping all day or feeling so jittery and sick, I couldn’t get anything done anyway. Why not get a good sleep and start fresh the next day?
A regular schedule is good for your mental and physical health. Even though we’re online entrepreneurs and one of the perks is a flexible schedule, maintaining some type of sleep/work/play routine is remarkably good for you. Personally, if I feel good…I get a lot more good stuff done.
Of course, that’s just me. You might prefer the all-night craziness. What say you?
About: Alice Seba
Alice Seba earns a full-time online income as an entrepreneur and loves to help others achieve the same. With a focus on using content to create relationships, loyalty and results from the written word, she co-owns both a ghostwriting service and a private label content business. To get more tips for your content marketing, visit Contentrix.com - your free resource with plenty of tips and strategies.Freebies
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lisa
I completely agree. We need sleep – kids or no kids!
kendra
I’ve never pulled an all nighter, even in college. I totally agree that you become a waste of a human being after a certain time of night and the whole next day is shot.
I’m a huge list maker and that helps me ‘power out’ what I need to do. If I don’t get as much done as I hoped, I got to bed anyway and set the alarm early. I’m at my best early in the morning with a huge pot of coffee and good music
Of course, having babies that wake up at all hours kind of defeats that good night’s sleep needed for a power morning, doesn’t it?
Michelle G.
I’m with you Alice. Sometimes I can get by on 5 to 6 hours of sleep but mostly I need 8 hours to function. Wish I was one that could get by on less but doesn’t seem to work.
Nell
Heck no. I need my sleep!
Karen Skidmore
I can’t do all nighters, but I find it I am stil working away past 10pm I could just keep going for hours & can find myself once a week working until 1 or 2am.
I find I do my best writing when the house is quiet, my kids and husband are fast asleep & my desk lamp & the glow from the screen are the only lights on.
The silence of the night is a very creative time for me
Genesis
Twitter: athomemom
You have some good points, but . . . . I find I do need to do all-nighters sometimes simply because my kids distract me all day! I do have the huge advantage of having a hubby who is home during the day, though, so I can often take a nap in the afternoon, even if the kids decide naps are out.
Tzdela
I can’t do all nighters anymore! I noticed the breakdown when I was about 28 yrs old…still single, trying to finish my degree. Now I’m married and have kids. Momma needs her sleep!!!!!!
Christine
No all nighters for me… I’m too old for that I think.
Shannon Smith
I totally agree with every thing you’ve said! All three points are right on!
That being said, I pull all-nighters at the end of every month. I’m responsible for the layout of a couple newspapers. Unfortunately, deadlines aren’t so easily moved, and I have to depend on them to get me the content on time in order for me to get the paper built on time. If they get it to me last minute, I have no choice but to stay up all night if it’s going to get to the printer on time.
My only option really is to let them go. Which is coming faster than they realize if they don’t get on the ball. LOL I can’t pull the all-nighters like I used to. It makes me cranky. It makes it hard to take care of my kid. And as you mentioned, it’s hard to even concentrate and be productive. Most the time, if I’m going to make a mistake. THAT is when it will happen.
Carrie
I hear wahms talk all the time about working really late and stuff – and to be frank, I WISH I could pull that off, but I CANNOT.
When I stay up too late my body will create that sleep the next day. I will be cranky, tired, unproductive, etc. I NEED 8 hours of sleep a night and actually feel better with 9.
lyle robinson
Like everyone who commented so far, I too need a good nights rest. I remember doing all nighters when I was a graduate student and while it was kind of cool to be typing away at 4:30 in the morning working towards that 9am hand-in, I regretted it from 10am on the next morning. Even now, I am in my forties, when my Classic Rock band has a gig, I get home at 4:30 in the morning and I am completely wiped the next day…no matter how long I sleep into. That’s why I like being my own boss. I can stop work when I want and continue when I want. Life is good. Thanks for the fun read and great blog. I am enjoying it greatly.
Polly Pierce
This may be a couple of weeks later than it should be; however in my previous life as an on-call OR Nurse I was contractually required to do all nighters as and when required. My greatest fear was sleeping thru a call which lead to my not sleeping well on the rare nights that weren’t busy.
The end result of this and nursing two children for almost three years in total was that I now suffer with chronic insomnia which has in turn affected my overall physical and emotional health. If I don’t get a good nights sleep; assisted by medication I am like an anti-Christ with very low levels of tolerance to everything including my two lovely kids!
Unfortunately, I am more inclined to be a night owl at the best of times and often fight my need for regular hours; it’s ingrained after years of abuse! And yes you’re right, all nighters are not great for productivity in terms of quality; so I try to avoid them like the plague for all of the reasons mentioned above!