Election 2017 - A Guide To Staying Up For The Result
Are you planning on staying up for election night? Me too! Well, I'm working on an election programme so I don’t really have a choice, but you do! So if you make the choice to stick with us after the exit poll here are a few tips to get you through to the end. If Dimbleby can do it, you can.
No Caffeine
If you know in advance you’re going to pull an all-nighter then the day before is a good place to start. Try and sleep, nap or rest as much as you can. If you can’t and have to work like a normal human being then avoid tea, coffee or energy drinks. Drinking them during the day will only burn you out by the time you get to 10 PM
Pick a Programme and Stick With It
It’ll be tempting to flick between the different all night programmes that are on offer, try not to. They’re all getting their information at the same time, the only real difference is how they deliver it and the type of guests they’ll have on. In Scotland you can choose from the following:
BBC1- Election 2017 (Scottish Programme With Glen Campbell, Jackie Bird, Bryan Taylor and David Henderson)
BBC2 - Election 2017 (UK Programme David Dimbleby)
STV- Election 2017 (Bernard Ponsonby)
Channel 4- The Alternative Election Night (Jeremy Paxman, David Mitchell and Richard Osman present)
Channel 5- Big Brother (Really? Don’t Do It)
Stay Connected
Multi-screen viewing is a thing, you’re probably doing it now, so as well as watching the events unfold on TV across the night following the right people on Twitter, you can start with this list and also follow these people:
Snacking
Try to avoid having one big meal, it’ll only make you want to go to sleep. Snacking both savoury and sweet across the night is the way to go. I recommend Pringles, but all the tubs as different party colours. Then you could theoretically pile up the crisps as the night goes on, one crisp is a seat won by a party. Use it as your own way of monitoring the outcome. Or you could just be boring at eat them… For sweet, try to spread your sugar intake across the night so you’re less likely to crash about 3 AM when stuff starts getting good.
Get Involved
LOADS of people will be live tweeting their election night, join them, interact with the programs you watch. Start a discussion, comment on whats going on, be part of the night as the result becomes known. Doing this will keep you focused and you’re brain active so you’re less likely to drift off on the couch.
When To Go To Bed
The first wave of people go to bed not long after the exit poll. The next after the first few results come in. That's followed by the 2 AM lot, they leave the fray just before things get interesting. I think if you’re in it for the long hall then the earliest you can go is after the official prediction. Then you’ve seen the dramatic stuff, and you know the outcome, just not the detail.
Be Nice or Get Over It
Most people will have a way they want it to go and a way they don’t, so if your team wins, enjoy it, but don’t be horrible. If your side loses, also don’t be horrible. Try for a bit to be happy you took part in a democratic process. Unless there’s a hung parliament, then just throw stuff.