Stay up on a School Night

It's always important to get a good night's sleep when you have school in the morning. However, there are some occasions when you may want to stay up a little later because there's a movie you want to watch or a sports event you need to see. Convincing your parents to let you stay up can definitely be a challenge, but if you approach them the right way, you can increase your chances of getting permission.

Steps

Making Your Case

1. Find the right time to ask. When you’re asking your parents to stay up on a school night, timing is everything. If you ask them when they’re in a bad mood or feeling particularly stressed, you’re likely going to get an automatic “no.” However, if you ask when they’re in a good mood, you have a better chance of getting permission to stay up.
   • Pay attention to when your parents are usually in a good mood. For example, if your dad is always happy after he watches her favorite TV show, that’s a good time to ask him if you can stay up.
   • On the other hand, if you know your parents are upset about something, wait until later to talk to them. For example, if your mom tells you that she’s had a bad day at work, you should give her some time to relax before you ask about staying up.
   • Make sure that your parents have time to listen to your request too. Don’t ask them when they’re about to head out the door or working on an important project around the house.
2. Show gratitude. Parents usually don’t respond well if you act like you entitled to something just because you asked for it. When you ask your parents to stay up on a school night, be sure to show gratitude so they know you appreciate all that they do allow you to do. Instead of just asking “Can I stay up late tonight?”, start by saying something like, “I know that you let me stay up sometimes for special occasions, and I really appreciate that.”
   • Don’t just pretend that you’re grateful what your parents do for you. It’s important to genuinely appreciate what they allow you to do, so you don’t take for granted that they’re going to let you stay up whenever you want.
   • Avoid whining when you ask too. Be as polite and calm as you can manage.
3. Provide a concrete reason. When you’re asking your parents to stay up on a school night, it helps to have a specific reason why you want to do it. They’re more likely to say yes if they know why it’s so important to you. For example, there might be a TV show that you really want to see or a late baseball game that you want to watch. Explain why you would like to stay up as clearly as possible, so your parents have good reason to allow it.
   • Your reason for wanting to stay up late on a school night doesn’t have to be a one-time-only event. You might feel that because you’ve reached a certain age, it’s time that you be allowed to stay up late every night.
   • If you’re asking for a permanent change to your bedtime, you might say, “I really feel that because I’m 12 years old now, I should be able to stay up until 10 o’clock.”
   • It may also help to cite examples of friends who are allowed to stay up on a school night. For example, you might say, “Ryan’s parents decided to let him stay up late on Thursday to watch the playoff game,” or “Marissa and Katelyn are also 13, and they’re allowed to stay up until 10:30 on school nights.”
4. Give them time to decide. You probably want to know right away if your parents are going to let you stay up, but try your best to be patient. If you put your parents on the spot and ask for an answer right way, they’re probably more likely to say “no.” Instead, tell that them that you want to give them time to think about your request.
   • You might say, “Don’t say yes or no right away. Take some time to think about it before you let me know.”
   • Being patient can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to settle on a specific time when you’re going to get your answer. For example, you might say, “You don’t have to let me know right now. Let’s talk about it again tomorrow afternoon.”

Earning Goodwill

1. Get your schoolwork done. If you parents are looking for reasons to say “no” to you, school will probably be their biggest concern. Prove to them that your schoolwork won’t suffer by getting all of the necessary projects and studying done in advance of the night that you plan to stay up.
   • When you get home from school, homework and studying should be your first priority. If your parents see that you take school seriously, they’ll be more likely to believe that you handle staying up late for the night.
   • If you’re asking for a permanent change to your bedtime, make sure to stay on top of your homework and do well on any tests for several weeks to a month before you ask your parents.
2. Rest up beforehand. If you know that there’s a certain night that you want to stay up, try to get some extra sleep beforehand. Your parents will want to know that you’re well-rested if you going to lose a few hours of sleep, and being sleep-deprived before the night even starts will only make it that much harder to wake up the morning after. Go to bed as early as possible the days leading up your big night, so you won’t be tired when you start.
   • You might want to make a point of going to bed early the night before, so your parents know that you’re trying to take care of yourself.
3. Offer to do chores. If you want something from your parents, offering to do some work around the house can often help because they’ll see that you’re willing to earn the privilege of staying up. That means doing more than your usual chores, though. Tell your parents that you’re willing to take on a little extra work in order to stay up.
   • When you’re talking to your parents, you might say, “I’m willing to wash the dishes every night this week if I can stay up” or “I’ll walk the dog for the rest of the month if you let me stay up tomorrow.”
   • If you’re negotiating for a permanent change to your bedtime, you may need to take on extra responsibilities indefinitely. For example, you might offer to be the one to take the garbage out from now on or to wash your parents’ cars once a month.

Surviving the Next Day

1. Have some caffeine. The morning after a late night, a little caffeine can help get you going. It’s important not to overdo it, though. Most people only need 100 to 200 milligrams (mg) to get an energy boost, so start with a single cup of coffee at breakfast. The effects last for three to four hours too, which means you won’t need to have more caffeine until about lunch time if you’re feeling tired again.
   • If you aren’t used to having caffeine regularly, it’s especially important to stick to small doses so you don’t wind up jittery and unable to concentrate. Don’t have more than 100 mg, or a 5 ounce cup, at a time.
   • If you don’t like coffee, you can swap it for your favorite energy drink, soda, or tea. Just make sure to check the label to see how much caffeine is in your beverage so you don’t overdo it.
   • It’s a good idea to drink your caffeinated beverage with a meal or snack. The food will help slow the release of caffeine in your body, so it doesn’t hit you all at once.
2. Plan to catch up on sleep the next day. If it’s possible, plan to give yourself plenty of time the following day to catch up on sleep. When you get home from school, take an hour long nap to recharge. Don’t sleep longer than that, though, or you may ruin your chances of sleeping at night. After you’ve finished with dinner, homework, and chores, get to bed as early as possible. You want to make sure that you get a solid 10 hours of sleep if possible.
   • Your motor skills will probably be affected after staying up late the night before, so make sure not to drive or do anything else that requires a quick response until you’ve caught up on sleep.
3. Try to be active. It may not seem like it makes sense, but moving around regularly after a late night can help improve alertness. You probably won’t have time to fit in a workout before school, but consider walking there if possible or doing some light stretching before you head out. It can also help to fit in some activity during lunch, such as a quick walk around the school track or building. Even jogging in place or doing some quick jumping jacks can help get your blood flowing and boost your energy.
   • If possible, aim to take an activity break every 45 minutes or so. That can help ensure that you stay awake and focused all day.

Tips

• Don’t ask your parents to stay up late too often. They’re more likely to say “no” if you’re constantly asking.
• If you feel sleepy the next day at school, splashing some cold water on your face in the bathroom can help wake you up.

Warnings

• Depriving yourself of sleep can takes its toll on your body. You may have trouble concentrating and your memory may be affected, so your performance in school may suffer.

Related Articles

• Pull an All Nighter With a Friend
• Sneak Into a Room at a School
• Make Instant Coffee
• Cram for a Test
• Sneak Out of Your House

Sources and Citations

See also

• Have School Pride
• Stay Energized at Work
• Withdraw from a Class
• Be a Loner in High School
• Get Straight "A"s
• Enjoy Your Birthday at School
• Convince Your Parents to Let You Switch Schools
• Get Into the High School of Your Choice
• Become Valedictorian
• Be a Ninja at School

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