Send me positive, clever, staying awake vibes, please

[gardennome]

This evening was earmarked for finishing my big essay. I took the night off work and everything. Of course poor toddler has spiked a horrid teething fever and has cried and breastfed constantly since 7pm. I think he's just fallen asleep. Now I need to put at least 5 hours into this essay before getting some sleep before work at 8am.

I feel utterly defeated already. Can you perk me up, please?

Are you sure you should? Might it be better to ask for an extension or take tomorrow off sick with toddler and try to catch up then? If toddler is likely to wake again you might not get the uninterrupted time you need.

If not, strong coffee, chocolate if you have it, switch off MN and any other distractions.

That sounds so stressful, as the other poster said can you get an extension? How critical is the deadline? Could you take tomorrow off work?

Otherwise, black coffee, green tea and snacks to keep your sugar levels up, nuts, peanut butter, crackers.

Do you really have to? 5 hours? What's the deadline?

I'd put on a really energetic song that you like and have a dance to get your blood pumping and your brain going.

Unless it’s due tomorrow, 3 hours tonight, 3 hours tomorrow.
If it’s due tomorrow: caffeine, open the windows and go!

If you can get an extension do - if you can’t then 1) have a shower 2) get dressed again listened to energising tunes, stick on some perfume 3) turn all the fucking lights on 4) tea not coffee so you don’t get wired (hold coffee in reserve if you need a jolt). 5) Give yourself time to get into the groove, you will 6) promise yourself a lipstick you want or similar 7) post on here to tell us when you are done!

Thanks. Replying as - guess what - he's awake again so I'm back in bed with him.

Extention / not working tomorrow really not options, sadly.

I'm not set on 5 hours tonight, it's just a guestimation of how long I think I might need.

A lot of very healthy suggestions there but I think I'll focus on the chocolate. Good shout.

I always find I more productive if I go to bed early to hen get up at 4am shower then get on
I find my brain works faster in the morning after sleep and gets slower as evening goes on. When.i was examiner for A level papers I used to go to bed way and get up at 4am and mark papers until 7.30 and I got loads done. If I tried to do it late at night not only was I slower, I had to check over everything inorno g anyway, as I was worried I may have missed some thing.

@gardennome I feel your pain! I have an interview tomorrow and had set aside all evening to prepare for it, to make the presentation I need, to do my research etc. Both baby and pre schooler have come down with high temp and feeling poorly. Isn't it always the way?

@caringcarer I am absolutely the same! I am 100% a morning person; my brain is on 30% by 10pm. But toddler bedshares with us and sleeps very lightly in the mornings; so I'm trapped beside him until he wakes. I keep reminding myself that one day I'll get the rhythm of my life back to the way that works best for me!

@hermionieweasley ugh! for you and the kids and good luck for tomorrow!

I'm giving up. Poor baby has woken every 20 minutes without fail. I will need to invent some more time somehow but I'm too tired to work out how to do it now.

@gardennome how did you get on?

I called it quits just after 3am. I made some progress but I suspect it will be drivel when I read back. I'd hoped not to have to work on it tonight after work but I think I'll need to plough a couple more hours in.

On a break atm and then finish at 9pm so hopefully I'll still be awake enough 😂. Thanks for asking!