You are tired and have to get up early for work.
This rebellious act that can endanger your health and work is called revenge bedtime procrastination.
We know you need at least 7 hours of sleep to function effectively, and having “me time” makes a sleep-deprived work day even more difficult, but resist. You can’t squeeze in late at night.
Sacrifice of sleep for personal time is prevalent in the adult community. Students with long, stressful jobs, students who are juggling study and work, and parents and caregivers are the most frequent perpetrators, and thus victims, of procrastinating bedtime.
Also known as sleep procrastination, it occurs when you make a deliberate choice to delay sleep in favor of some leisure activity.
The “revenge” bit is the desire to regain some control from the time spent at work during the day and caring for others.
People who procrastinate sleep intentionally reduce their sleep time, seeing it as the only way to make time for inconspicuous and enjoyable activities.
An estimated 30% of the population gets less than the often recommended 7 hours of sleep.
With many people working remotely due to the pandemic, the lines between our work and the rest of our lives have blurred, and many have inadvertently extended their workdays.
Even for those in the office, technology has made it easier to bring work home and extend the day.
People who skip sleep in order to indulge in their favorite activities believe the trade-off lowers their stress levels.
At work, lack of sleep can induce memory loss, increase the likelihood of angry outbursts, cause hallucinations and slurred speech, impair decision-making, and lead to feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness. .
Worse, it might be a rude awakening for those who avoid bedtime to enjoy other things, but experts say less sleep means less life.
It makes sense to have more time to relax, but sacrificing sleep for it is not an effective way to manage stress.
Experts quickly highlight alternatives.
Take short breaks throughout your work day to do something you enjoy, like meditation or listening to music.
Some find it helpful to take a more holistic approach by planning leisure time throughout the week so that relaxation is not just the domain of the last few hours before bed.
Additionally, some recommend creating the perfect sleep environment so that there is no room for procrastination. This includes digital curfews to put digital devices to sleep before retirement.
Ironically, only those who get enough sleep have the mental clarity to spot opportunities for downtime during the day.
For more insight and expertise on current workplace topics, please visit: AIM WA Workplace Conversation
Professor Gary Martin is Chief Executive Officer of the Australian School of Management Washington State.
