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Hi, and happy Monday!
Can you believe it’s been a whole year since we were first hit with the pandemic? So much learning and unlearning has occurred during this time— and as we do the work of managing our health and wellness, I’m curious to know, how’s your sleep quality?
When working with my clients, a common theme arises related to folks struggling to go to bed on time and experiencing an overall lack of sleep. A lot of the stories I hear are from people who’ve seen an increase in personal busyness since the pandemic hit, resulting in a deregulated sleep cycle.
Can you relate?
If so, you’re clearly not alone, and there’s actually a specific reason why this might be happening to you.
Revenge bedtime procrastination happens when a person sacrifices their sleep to reclaim the time they feel was lost during the excessively busy day. This can look like staying up to watch more TV, scrolling on social media, talking on the phone, etc. despite knowing it will result in fatigue and restlessness in the morning.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay up a little more to reward yourself with some entertainment. But when this becomes a chronic concern that doesn’t leave you feeling good, you might begin to notice a decrease in your mental health. That’s because proper sleep hygiene is crucial for your overall well-being.
The good thing to know here is that there is a way to work through revenge bedtime procrastination. Here are two things to try this week:
- Reassess your daytime boundaries. If you find yourself consistently pushing the things that matter most to you late into the night, I encourage you to assess what you’re giving your time to early in the day. Start by identifying two of your daily activities that can be cut or cut back. A small change like that can make a big difference!
- Create a nighttime routine. When your body isn’t used to routine, it can be hard for it to know that it’s bedtime, especially if you expose yourself to extra stimuli that keeps you awake. So, instead of opting for hours worth of television, opt for more calming activity that helps to promote sleep, like a warm bath, journaling, or even meditation.
I’ll be back next week to uncover more about how we can continue to increase our sleep skills and reclaim our peace.
With love,
Minaa
