What does it feel like the next morning if you stay up late?

It depends. If I burn the midnight oil, I’ll usually feel exhausted and kinda spaced out and find it extremely difficult to keep my eyes open in the morning, and my brain will have morning fog.

But sometimes, strangely enough, I actually might feel even more energetic. I remember there were nights when I had to work until 3 in the morning and wake up around 7 because the next day was a global conference or something like that and still get through the day without yawning, but I find, to be honest, that these days I really need a nap if I go to bed past, say, 12:30.

• burn the midnight oil 熬夜
• feel exhausted 感到筋疲力尽
• keep my eyes open 睁开眼睛
• morning fog 晨雾
• global conference 全球会议
• get through the day 度过一天
• yawning 打呵欠
• a nap 午觉

Did you stay up late when you were a kid?

Rarely. I stayed up only on the eve of Chinese New Year, waiting for the arrival of the New Year together with my family. Other than that, I also stayed up during the last few nights of the summer vacation, trying to complete the insane amount of homework that I’d been procrastinating about since Day 1 of the vacation. But those are the only times I can remember when I stayed up late.

• summer vacation 暑假
• insane amount of 不计其数的
• procrastinate 拖延

What do you usually do when you stay up late?

Well, it’s funny, but I used to go to bed very early, but these days I’ve turned into a night owl, so I have developed a night routine: doing work, reading, and watching videos, and I guess that’s because I sort of discovered that I’m so much more efficient in the evenings. Sometimes I actually stay up too late, usually when I can’t put a book down.

• a night owl 夜猫子
• can't put a book down 沉迷阅读

Do you often stay up late?

Admittedly, yes. I know it’s a horrible habit, but I can’t help it. It’s usually around 1 o’clock by the time I’m in bed these days. I teach, write, and read in the evenings and before you know it, it’s like half-past midnight. However, I do have the luxury to sleep in these days, but still, I think it’s not good. I want to change this, and start doing morning exercise again, which I used to do.

• a horrible habit 很糟糕的习惯
• can't help it 真没办法
• by the time 到……的时候
• before you know it 不知不觉
• have the luxury 可以……；有时间……
• sleep in 睡懒觉