h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If you seriously have only 4 hours and you're used to 8, don't go to bed at all. Have a hot shower fading to cold and a breakfast including coffee and grapefruit juice and a fair amount of other stuff (you will probably need to go to the nearest transport caff, but the walk will do you good as well. Then go straight on with your day nad try to have an early-ish night at the end of it.
If you can do it when you're partying, you can do it when you're working.I don't think it's a good idea to do it twice in a row but I distinctly remember doing it several times when I was a student.

My record is 57 hours without any sleep at all. I do not recommend it!

I have taught myself an extremely useful trick which is great for hitchhiking. I can sleep sitting up in a chair, holding a newspaper, or standing up if I have a walled corner to lean on. It's more dozing than proper sleep but it's better than nothing. Occasionally I've used it to save having to spend extortionate amounts of money to stay in a hotel or B&B.

I also use it at work, if I haven't had much sleep the night before and haven't got anything critical to be getting on with. I hold a piece of paper in one hand, on the desk, and lean my chin on the other hand, which also holds a highlighter. Even to people close by, it looks like I'm concentrating hard on a report and highlighting important bits.

Another trick, which I've learnt from going to the more boring churches; if somebody notices that you're asleep and shakes your shoulder, and wakes you up, say 'Amen' and sit up.

Oooh, you should read 'Dilbert: The Joy of Work'... if you're lucky enough to have an office with a door, it suggests going to sleep on the floor with your face in a pile of paperclips and your foot blocking the door. Someone opens it and you wake up, give a grunt, and start picking up those paperclips...

Can't say I've ever tried it, but then I've never worked either.

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I would disagree... from my experience with all nighters, sometimes you are gonna be more tired on two hours of sleep... but if you have to, and you cn take like an hour nap around eleven (although I'd guess it varies by the person) the rest of the day will be much easier.

I've got 'The Joy Of Work', it's an excellent book, and I'm putting it into good use

Unfortunately we've got an 'open plan' office, which basically means they use less space than cubicles... in the words of Scott Adams, the next thing they'll do it pack us all into the stock cupboard together.

Most of our department share an open plan in the main building, but about 15 of us are housed in what should be student dorm rooms as the uni has no other space for us. I share an office with 2 others - one left for a better-paid job at the end of March, the other started her maternity leave at the end of April. Do you think I should invest in stronger deodorant?

Depends if you like having an office to yourself or not!

I'm planning on getting the office I work in to myself by poisoning the cappachino machine.