Bedtime procrastination is not only a common problem, but it’s one that can lead to several problems. The term “revenge bedtime procrastination” refers to a phenomenon that may or may not be intentional. The average person takes about 90 minutes to get to sleep, but there are plenty of ways to stretch out this process. It might seem obvious why people put off going to bed; we all know the benefits of getting enough sleep. Some researchers believe revenge bedtime procrastination is a form of self-sabotage. Other researchers believe revenge bedtime procrastination is a form of self-regulation when there is an inability to self-regulate oneself in other areas of life.
What is “Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?”
The term “revenge bedtime procrastination” refers to a phenomenon that may or may not be intentional. The idea is that you go out of your way to make yourself tired, so that when it comes time for bedtime, you can delay getting into bed for as long as possible.
The reason this happens is because people tend to feel bad about themselves when they don’t get enough sleep–and they hope that by making themselves tired enough beforehand, they won’t have any energy left over after their daily duties are completed. If I had just taken care of my responsibilities and went straight home from work instead of stopping for dinner with my coworkers first…if only I hadn’t spent all day Sunday watching TV…if only we didn’t have kids who need our attention…if only we weren’t responsible adults who have mortgages and bills due each month…then maybe we could stay up later than usual!
The good news is revenge bedtime procrastination doesn’t work! Even if you manage not only stay awake past midnight but also wake up early enough tomorrow morning so as not miss any appointments/meetings/ with friends at school drop-off times (which will likely happen if this becomes an ongoing habit), your body will still be suffering from lack thereof over time–and eventually catch up with its prior schedule anyway.
It’s not uncommon to think of bedtime procrastination as a personal failing, but the truth is that most people struggle with it at one point or another. The average person takes about 90 minutes to get to sleep, but there are plenty of ways to stretch out this process.
One way is by watching TV or using a computer before bed. This can cause your body temperature and heart rate to rise so much that it has an adverse effect on your ability to fall asleep quickly–and even if you do fall asleep fast, it’s likely that you’ll wake up several times during the night because your brain was still stimulated from what you were watching earlier!
Another common mistake people make when trying not to fall asleep is eating too much food before going under cover. While eating isn’t necessarily bad for getting into bedtime mode because some foods naturally induce drowsiness like bananas contain tryptophan which helps produce melatonin – an important hormone involved in promoting restful sleep – eating too much tends lead us feeling bloated which makes lying down uncomfortable or even impossible; meanwhile consuming alcohol may make us feel relaxed at first but causes dehydration which leads our bodies require more water than usual meaning extra trips back downstairs after midnight when everyone else has gone home already…
Putting off going to sleep may seem like harmless fun at first, but it can lead to big problems down the road.
“Revenge bedtime procrastination” is not a form of self-sabotage. It’s a form of self-regulation when there is an inability to self-regulate oneself in other areas of life.
In fact, many people who engage in revenge bedtime procrastination are quite successful at other things–they just struggle with this one thing. They may be excellent employees and great parents but still find themselves putting off going to sleep until very late at night, sometimes even past midnight or 1 am!
Conclusion
So, what can we do about it? The first step is to acknowledge that this is a problem. You might be surprised by how many people have experienced bedtime procrastination or even revenge bedtime procrastination themselves! Once you’ve identified this as something that affects you, start experimenting with different ways of getting yourself ready for bed earlier in the evening so that you’ll be able to fall asleep faster and get more rest overall.