By Enya Loo, Trinity College Student
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you want to sleep so bad - yet find yourself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and Youtube in bed till the wee hours of the morning?
Well, that means you’re probably one of the many people that suffer from revenge bedtime procrastination, also known as sleep procrastination.
So, what exactly is this voluntary action of ours?
“Revenge bedtime procrastination” – the literal translation is “staying up late in a self-revenge way” – is not simply about procrastinating, though. It is about compensating yourself mentally after a day monopolised by duties and responsibilities. The night is the only time to have precious “me-time” and “regain control”.
Even when we’re dead exhausted, we continue to watch a couple episodes of Netflix, or just try to find something to do - to keep ourselves awake for as long as we can.
In this way, bedtime procrastination is seen as a way of getting “revenge” on daytime hours with little or no free time. Though initially expressed by people in China, the idea has resonated across the globe and gained additional traction in response to stress induced by COVID-19.
Although revenge bedtime procrastination can be tempting in the moment, late nights followed by early mornings can directly lead to serious sleep deprivation. Cutting back on sleep can have significant negative effects on mental, physical, and emotional health with short- and long-term consequences.
Some self care tips to prevent sleep procrastination:
- Relaxation techniques like reading a book or lighting some scented candles
- Comfortable bedding, dim down lights and make your bedroom appealing for sleep
Revenge bedtime procrastination can be super damaging to our sleep cycles and overall well being. Especially with the pandemic, we no longer have a clear distinction between what is considered “a crazy amount of screen time” and a good use of the internet. So, don’t do this to yourself! Get some sleep and I promise you it’ll be worth it.