Keep calm and sleep over!

NEWSFLASH!! Sleepovers are not always all that they are hyped to be. Seriously, they’re not.

OK, let me calm down. The reason behind this seemingly random newsflash is New Year’s Eve. Every year, before New Year’s, I am like: “I just have to do something this year with my friends, blah blah blah.” And I invite a friend or two over for a sleepover. Or somebody invites me. 

This year was no exception. I called up one of my friends and was all, “Come over for a sleepover, it’ll be so cool and we can do loads of stuff.” Then I realise that my 11-year-old sisters are also having their own sleepover. Things look tricky.  But, with a lot of negotiation (about who will play where, and who will sleep where, and who will sleep at what time) I manage to get my parents to agree to a joint sleepover. 

So all is well with my New Year’s plans. Till I start getting a bit worried.

In a sleepover, you would generally expect 2-3 girls, cuddling cozily around a huge midnight spread, gossiping and painting each other’s toenails. 

Reality check! It’s NOT always like that. Firstly, it’s a bit hard to keep someone entertained for seven or eight hours at a go. I mean, once you’ve done everything you usually do with them and gossiped a bit, there’s really not much left to do, and someone ends up getting bored. And the problem with group sleepovers is that, more often than not, someone ends up feeling left out (especially in modern-day sleepovers, which basically involve girls texting, looking at other people texts and gossiping about other people’s texts.)        

But still, it’s OK. Until the next morning. It’s around breakfast that the panicky feelings kick in. Will I be able to concentrate in violin class today? Have I finished my SS Project? Can I really mug all my Hindi synonyms for tomorrow? And that nagging voice in your brain can’t seem to leave you be. And then, all through the pancakes and while you’re playing with your friend, you keep on thinking about the work that’s waiting for you, that your mother has evilly laid out for you, that is sure to take the whole afternoon. And the evening. And suddenly, your heart isn’t quite in the sleepover anymore.

Then your friend leaves and the sleepiness kicks in. And you spend the day in a sleep-deprived haze, lurching around groggily but trying your best to pretend that everything is just fine and dandy, so that your mother does not ban sleepovers for the rest of eternity.

To help my fellow teens avoid sleepover catastrophes, I’ve put together a list of sleepover suggestions:

1. Prank Calls — When the energy levels are down and people are looking bored this is a good way to get things going. But stick to sporting schoolmates and friends. And please avoid calling home numbers and mother’s phones!!

2. Watch a movie — If your guests are getting really bored, it might be a good idea to settle down to watch a movie or some YouTube videos. Remember to make sure that your guests aren’t getting even more bored, though.

3. Truth or Dare — It’s a great game to play to get people off their phones. And to get some spicy gossip as a bonus.

4. Guests first — Remember to ask your guests what they want to do and make sure that they are all involved.

5. Be a lively and energetic host— No one likes a bored host. Don’t be a party pooper. Also, keep some fun junk food on hand.

6. Bedtime — Do not pressure your guests into sleeping early or late depending on you whims. But do try and get some sleep. Or the next day will be bad.

I followed these tips and New Year’s Eve was great.

Actually I’ve realised that while sleepovers are fun, they are not spectacular. So if you ever feel bad ‘coz someone else is always having sleepovers just remember, things are not always how they seem from the outside.

Aaliya Ramakrishnan is a teen drama queen who plays the violin, sings, dances, and acts, both in real life and on the stage.