There is no better feeling than sacrificing a few hours of sleep for self-care or entertainment after a long busy day at work.
Though this behavior can make us feel good and rewarded, skipping a good night’s sleep can do more harm than health.
What is Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?
Revenge Bedtime Procrastination, or sleep procrastination, means cutting back on sleep to fit in a few hours of leisure or entertainment to compensate for the lack of free time during the day.
What is the psychological reason behind this?
Up to this date, the concept of sleep science is still heavily studied and debated. However, many have raised a few arguments to explain the phenomenon.
1. A lack of self-control causes sleep procrastination.
2. “Night owls” are forced to adopt an “Early bird” schedule, thus compromising their sleep-wake schedule.
3. The behavior is an attempt to seek rest and recovery after a stressful work day.
Despite all these claims, the lack of solid evidence and explanation prompts further research to understand this voluntary sacrifice of sleep.
How to stop Sleep Procrastination?
Functioning without enough sleep can lead to detrimental long-term effects such as weakened immunity, the risk for diabetes, and increased memory issues. Thus, managing our activities day and night becomes of utmost importance.
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Learn to manage your stress levels
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Allocate time during the day for your “Me time.”
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Sleep and wake at the same time each day
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Skip heavy meals, alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco before bed
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No screens before bedtime
