All-Nighters

Well, I did it again. Once again, I spent the night working on a project in order to finish it by deadline. Why do I keep doing this? I asked myself at 3 in the morning when I was still a full three hours away from finishing. I've fallen into the bad habit of ignoring my work until a deadline looms and then throwing myself into overdrive to finish it.

I know how I can avoid another all-nighter: simply by working a few hours on my current projects every day, rather than waiting till the last minute. What I need to figure out is why I keep putting myself in this position. I must be getting something out of this pattern of behavior, or I wouldn't perpetuate it.

So, what do I like about all-nighters?

I like the adrenaline rush, the feeling that I am down to the wire. My daily schedule is so predictable. Maybe this is my way of generating some excitement.

I like the quiet of the sleeping house. I like thinking of my four guys all snug in their beds. I like being able to work uninterrupted for hours on end, something I don't get to do during the day or the evening. I like watching episodes of old TV shows on Nick at Night or TV Land.

I like seeing the first morning light seep through the miniblinds and hearing the first bird song.

I like the peaceful feeling I have when I package up the manuscript and the master pages, knowing that the job is all done.

Here is what I don't like about all-nighters:

I don't like Tab's scornful, disapproving expression when I tell him I'll be working late.

I don't like worrying about whether I'll fall asleep while driving the next day.

I don't like thinking of the toll I'm taking on my immune system and general health, both physical and mental.

I don't like the fact that it takes me several full nights of sleep to recover.

So do the disadvantages outweight the benefits? I'll let you know the next time I have a deadline.

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