Have you ever stayed up all night? And what for?

[BishopFrownofStThigh]

Might have to do this tonight...

How did you manage?

Working on overnight project launches (IT) but usually so busy that you don’t really even notice that the night has gone. I am usually OK until I stop, although after about 14 hours I start to get really bad headaches.

Many times for travelling or giving birth or in A and E. One special Christmas Eve I got to sit all night in A and E with DH who had an agonising knee issue we got back at 5.30 just in time for the DD’s to get up and open presents! you just get through it. I would recommend small snack and drinks every so often and keep moving if possible.

I used to do this regularly as a trainee science teacher/NQT. I'm honestly getting more sleep with a new baby than I ever slept when I started teaching.

I’m a midwife, so have been up many a night with women in labour.

Personally, I find crumpets help me get through the 5am slump

I do it quite often when I have long haul flights the next morning.
It's not really that hard, more boring.

Get up normal time, do your normal day, try and do something physical as well. Have your normal evening.

Then when you start feeling tired, do stuff. I finish off packing clean the house, put on laundry, even go shopping for last minute snacks or food for house sitters if necessary. Time flies really.

Many times too:

during labour
Moving
Studying/working
With DH when we first met
With my dad when he died

Many times in my late teens early 20s... Partying all night and through the day. Um the fun drugs helped I guess
I'd never dream of that now 😂

Also in the last 18months there's been a few all nighters with my son mostly the beginning. If he was poorly I just could not sleep.

I found rehydration salts, vit c effervescent and sunglasses once its daytime helpful

Many times, especially since my twins were born when they’ve been very ill. And with my mum in the hospice. Recently when DT2 had chicken pox and an infection and was inconsolable.

It’s fine for one night - you’ll get a second wind!

Worked a late shift (11.30pm finish), having been up since 7am with dc. Handover manager called in sick 30mins before shift end for me. No one else could stay and it was a 24hour operation. Thankfully he kept an idiots guide for the tasks he does overnight and there was food in the fridge.

I managed til 5am when a colleague who had heard came in to help. I couldn't leave though as a manager had to be on site so I took my phone and found somewhere comfy to sleep notsleep til 7am when the morning manager arrived.

As a student, I wrote my dissertation proposal in 3 days without sleeping: pro plus, coffee and red bull got me through that.
I now work at least one night shift most weeks, but sometimes they are so busy you don't have time to think about how tired you are: tea and toast is what gets most people through them, especially at about 5.30am.
Also, ill children, my baby who hated sleep etc

I have, but sadly not for good or exciting reasons. Several times sitting in a&e either with dcs, dh or my mum. Worst one was sitting with my dad as he died then having a two our journey back so I could go to work. Where I got moaned at by a parent because I was two minutes late taking her child into school for a before school class I ran. Apparently I didn't care about her child. Which of course a is the reason I chose to go in to work, rather than stay home that day.
As to how I managed it, I don't know - natural adrenalin I guess.

Work
Travelling
Pain

It's not my favourite thing to do.

But it's doable!

Tonight is going to be an all nighter, I drink tea and read through mumsnet classics, I watch Netflix and if I get very sleepy I run the cold tap and hold my wrists under the cold water until I can hardly feel my hands. Littlest DC has had a couple of little seizures today and as he was going over tonight he was having a lot of his myoclonic twitches- so may be in for a big one, I couldnt not watch him tonight.

I think the longest I stayed awake was when DD had become unwell. Started with a tickly cough in the morning and was a full blown viral induced wheeze by the next morning. I stayed awake watching her sleep I was that scared. Spent the next 16hrs after she woke up in hospital. Then another 8hrs just making sure the cough/wheeze had settled. Adrenaline and coffee and Prime videos kept me going.

The 'OMG, I couldn't do it now!' -responses is one reason why health care is so desperately short of staff.

People who did what they considered 'their share' of night shift from 18-40, then get into a 9-5 or 8-8 day shift position, are now being forced by (C)Hunt's '24/7 health care provision' back into night shift at 58.

I walked.

I have done dozens, if not hundreds of night shifts, some 0900 to 1230 the following day as an HCP. They wreck your health, especially if you don't remember driving home at 1230...

I always recall the quiet pride of accountant housemates 'pulling an all-nighter' to fix up a big client's tax-mitigation strategy with a degree of contempt, if I'm honest.

I used to be cabin crew. It happened quite often on my roster that I’d do a night flight. Lots of tea, and take my watch off.

I suffer with insomnia now, so I’m a night owl. Would love another job that’s through the night, it feels so peaceful to me.

London moonwalk x3
Election
Worrying about ex turning up
Ill children
Several times but adrenaline usually keeps me up.

As a student, I wrote my dissertation proposal in 3 days without sleeping: pro plus, coffee and red bull got me through that

I wrote my dissertation proposal the day after I got back from the 48 hour trip to Vegas I mentioned upthread (hadn’t been to bed for the entire trip) 😂. Flight landed at 7am, dissertation proposal due in at 5pm. I didn’t even go straight to bed after, I went for drinks with my housemate!

Twice checking my idiot DS was still alive after picking him up drunk from a party.

What, ever??
Countless times.
For fun as a student or at festivals etc.
With kids when they were ill/ teething.
In labour.
Travelling.
Studying.
I never found it hard.

Heart felt sympathies for all those of you sitting up all night to watch over ill children or children prone to fits

For myself:
Thesis deadlines or writing essays that I should have started earlier
Working out a maths problem. At 4.00 in the morning husband got up to see what I was doing and did in 30 seconds what I'd been puzzling over for 6 hours.
Preparation for courses. Sometimes sat up all night to do slides then drove to Gatwick or Heathrow to get on a plane to other side of world
Meeting work deadlines. 80 hour weeks.
Often awake all night after anti-social behaviour outside. This got so bad we moved. It was a really posh road, too!
Screaming babies (normal stuff!)

To finish the Kite Runner. I couldn't put it down

Looking after sick grandson with chickenpox whilst exhausted daughter had the first full night's sleep for a few days . Pulled out the sofa bed in the play area and played with him till he fell asleep . He enjoyed that till about 3a.m . I watched over him till 6 till his Dad came home from nights and I sent him straight to bed as he was tired out too . Our daughter slept till 10.30 .am . I had no sleep at all but it was such a special night . I felt happy and privileged to be able to do it . It was a lovely summer night and we kept the door to the garden open . I'll never forget it .
The other time I stayed awake all night ( or was pleasantly kept awake) is another story and not family related . Also a long time ago

Fun
Studying
Babies
Work
Travelling

I’m a night owl anyway, but I’m on fire with a can of Red Bull inside me.