Come to the first year studios of my school, the space is cluttered with the graffiti of architecture students past. One can’t help the spray painted message on the broken window: SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK! The All-Nighter is no stranger to architecture students whether you try to avoid it or not.
Before I go further, I would like to mention that I do not condone slacking or making things easier. I hope that this post is not just merely generalized as bitching. However the tradition of the All-Nighter shows the challenge of architecture schools of trying to compress an ever-expanding field of architecture into a typical framework of 4-5 years of undergraduate study (2-3 for graduate). It clearly shows how different the architectural education compares to other undergraduate programs such as the Humanities, Engineering, and Business in terms of it’s structure and focus on the design studio as opposed to a lecture hall, and the subjectivity of the design work we do.
I have mixed feelings about the All-Nighters. I have learned the hard way from avoiding them in my early years. Nearing the final years of my degree, I can pull a straight 2 to the max, and I have heard of many friends in Interior Design and Architecture School that boast of 3 or more in a row. Our design culture tends to glorify the image of the self-suffering artist – the designer that compromises himself in order to be the best.
Is this healthy? Is it worth it? Is it meaningful to living a fulfilling life? Are these acts of self-suffering to be celebrated and exemplified? Is it a true measurement of one’s dedication, hardwork, productivity and work ethic?
On one hand I am kinda partial to the all-nighters and late nights in studio. I must say that those experiences have made me stronger, developed a work ethic, and taught me the importance of being a team player for group projects….There is the downside to the experience…
I was 1 out of 2 students pulling it all-night for a group project to be done by10-14ish students who would get the same mark even if there were a few slackers…that was not fun
(The negative experience taught me many things – importance of being professional, being a team player by bearing my load and always being proactive…however what the F**K were my professors thinking?)
On the other hand, I have seen the effects of the all-nighters. Personally, mines were headaches, bloodshot eyes, incoherence, feeling emotional, a random cramping in the leg that served as my alarm clock. I’m not much of a drinker, but I can tell you that it’s like feeling drunk, just without feeling nauseous.
I had a summer job boss that studied Architecture, and works in the field of Building Science. However he hinted to me and a few summer interns that now he has Arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat) from the numerous late nights spent during university.
And don’t think chugging down a large can of energy drink or stocking up on a large caffeine drink from the nearby cafe will be your saving grace. Too much of something is never a good thing and I’m sure these are not healthy if you do your research. And even if it keeps you awake, you’ll still feel incoherent and less productive.
For those with mental health issues, the lack of sleep can actually trigger or worsen a lot of the symptoms for students that suffer from depression and anxiety – which can actually cramp on one’s academic performance. It is those students that silently suffer in an architecture school environment and studio culture that does not freely accommodate or support them. sleep, exercise, and nutrition are 3 vital components to cope with the effects of mental health, and at the same time in architecture school sleep, exercise, and nutrition are the first ones to go when sh*t hits the fan.
I’m just curious if the all-nighters are worth it. In real life, you are being paid by the hour and you have to get your work done. I do not think that a company will want to pay you for work overtime on a regular basis. (unless you do freelance work like me where it`s really beyond the defined lines of 9-5…but that is only need be and the ultimate last resource when a deadline has to be met)
It is completely unhealthy to be upholding this kind of lifestyle. Is it really worth pushing yourself to achieve the highest position in your career while compromising your health and well being? Architecture school is tough, and I do value it for making me who I am today. However, this practice of all-nighters is a tradition that needs to be either scrapped or re-assessed – looking towards finding coping strategies and alternatives to dealing with it.
Look out for Part 2 of The Almighty All-Nighter. Read more and find resources on the Underdog Architecture Student’s Blog here.
