Psychologists call it Revenge Procrastination in Bed, an increasingly fashionable clinical term. And it is quite concerning.
All the world we have procrastinated more than once. One of the most curious words in our language, but that actually means postpone an obligation, or a job.
When we were kids, we procrastinated by delaying homework until the last minute. Or we would study for the test, hurrying and running, the night before.
At work you also procrastinate when we are given a task and we delay it until we have no choice but to do it. But it applies to just about anything: from cleaning the house to taking down the trash.
It usually occurs with boring tasks or tasks that we do not want to do, and although everyone has practiced it at some time, there are people who are experts procrastinating. Many times, with negative consequencessuch as failing exams or being fired from work.
The American Sleep Association alert of a type of procrastination that is becoming more and more common: Revenge Bed Procrastination, sleep procrastinators.
They are people who, when night comes, Instead of going to sleep, they watch a television series, play video games, listen to music, or watch social networks.
It should not be confused with an addiction. They are not addicted to anything. Instead of going to sleep, they simply do another task. Even they can do things that have no endLike drawing scribbles on paper or watching a movie they don’t like, as long as they don’t go to sleep.
Why do they do it? The term revenge, gives us a clue. They are people who work a lot or have many obligations, or do not know how to organize their tasks, and they don’t take time off during the day to do things they like.
So in the sleeping hours, like some kind of revenge for not having time during the day, They are dedicated to enjoying leisure and delay going to bed, losing hours of sleep that affects your health.
How do you know if you are a sleep procrastinator? Be careful if you do any of these things:
- You sleep fewer hours than a few years ago because you delay going to bed more and more
- You go to sleep later for no apparent reason
- You continue without going to sleep even though you know that this will have negative consequences
What can be done to stop procrastinating at night?
Dr. and therapist Janelle Watson recommends these steps:
- Start relaxing 30 minutes before your bedtime. A hot bath, a glass of milk, whatever you know makes you sleepy. This way you will have more predisposition to go to sleep
- Set alarms on clocks, smart speakers, PCs, and other devices, to let you know when it’s time to go to sleep
- Design a realistic homework schedule that leaves hours to rest properly, and that in turn you have some time for leisure during the day
- Turn off all screens and put them out of reach when you get into bed
- Do not use the mobile as an alarm clock (you will be tempted to use it in bed for other things), use a lifelong alarm clock
- Practice relaxation techniques before going to sleep, such as mindfulness or meditation
- Look for the cause of your proscratination, and try to end it
- If all of the above fails, go to a therapist
The procrastination It is a disorder that must be treated when it affects our health.