1 a.m. could very well be the new 10 a.m. at any given day of the week. And if you haven’t heard already, there is a term to describe it. When you are scrolling through your Twitter or IG feed or binge-watching a show instead of sleeping, you are actually doing some ‘revenge bedtime procrastination’. The term first started doing the rounds on the internet in China in 2016 and, in 2020, a now-viral Twitter thread by writer Daphnee K. Lee explained the phenomenon.
Image Credits: Twitter/daphneekylee
What Is Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?
An original research article on the subject, published in 2014, describes the term as “going to bed later than intended while no external circumstances are accountable for doing so”. Feels familiar? It’s our way of trying to gain some control over our schedule and find the much-required ‘me time’, even if it means mindlessly thumbing through Instagram. Naturally, the pandemic has only added to the lack of balance in our work-life schedules, and revenge bedtime procrastination perfectly explains why we would rather not go to bed at a designated hour. Right below, we take a look at some signs to identify if you too have been indulging in some bedtime procrastination all along.
Image Credits: iStock
1. You Will Do Anything To Put Off Sleep
Since you spend all day wrapped up in work or chores and find no time for yourself, the few hours before bed is the only time that remains. The deliberate choice of putting off sleep, even if tired, for more appealing avenues is where revenge bedtime procrastination comes in. It could be spent reading random information on the web or jumping from one app to the other.
2. It Makes You Feel Fulfilled (For A Bit)
It doesn’t necessarily have to be fruitful, but you like the feeling of having that ‘extra’ time and, of course, being in control. It’s somehow liberating because you are the one calling the shots.
Image Credits: Instagram/Alia Bhatt
3. But The Mornings Are Especially Tough
It goes without saying that staying up late is enough to wreak havoc on the next day’s schedule. Going to bed post-2 a.m. every day has its momentary charms, but the mornings are particularly groggy and irritating.
4. Boundaries Between Work & Leisure Are Blurred
Late at night (or in the wee hours of morning), you either end up doomscrolling or binge-watching to avoid sleep and, before you know it, you are worrying about the next day’s schedule. An unrealistic routine and lack of sleep end up messing with your concentration and delaying work, further blurring the boundaries of balance.
Image Credit: Twitter/ RJStrodel
5. It Has Become An Unending Cycle
You mean to put a stop to it soon-ish, but in choosing between leisure and sleep, you always end up siding with the former and, before you know it, the revenge bedtime procrastination is a ritual.
6. How To Stop Revenge Bedtime Procrastination
It all leads to putting things into perspective, especially considering the long run. Lack of sleep can affect your decision-making, your capacity to function and much more. Set some ground rules that help you take out the time for leisure but ensure that it doesn’t require cutting back on sleep. Avoid caffeine a few hours before bed, keep your sleep and wake-up schedule consistent, and let go of those phones and screens a bit before bedtime.
Go on, try it and see the difference!
Lead Image Credits: Instagram/Janhvi Kapoor and iStock
