Revenge bedtime procrastination: Are you to blame?

It’s time for bed, but you want to continue binging that show on Netflix, scroll through social media one more time, or finish some online shopping.

Sound familiar? The term “revenge bedtime procrastination” may be new, but ignoring your body’s call to get some sleep in favor of staying up late is not.

Increased work hours and modern technology have also blurred the lines of work and home life balance, and for many, trying to carve out some extra “me time” prior to going to bed leading to less sleep than they need.

“This can lead to feeling tired the next day, worsening mood problems, problems with memory and concentration, and can also have negative cardiovascular consequences,” says Dr. Joshua Fehl, director of the Aurora Sinai Sleep Medicine Center in Milwaukee. “The tendency to push off sleep can also steadily worsen over time which then can lead to other sleep problems.

While keeping a perfect sleep schedule might not be realistic, here are a few tips from Dr. Fehl to get you ready for bed:

• Keep a similar bedtime each night. Try to keep to a normal bedtime schedule so that your body can naturally prepare for sleep.
• Look at your daytime schedule. If you need some “me time”, try to do that during the day so you don’t feel the need to do it at night.
• Set an alarm one hour prior to bed. Make a habit of using that alarm to shut off electronics and unwind before bed. Read a book, listen to music and mentally push anxiety away.
• Make your bedroom a relaxing environment. Shut off the lights, and make sure your bedroom remains quiet, dark and comfortable.
• Realize that sleep is important to overall health. In addition to diet and exercise, sleep is an important component to overall health and is something that should be taken seriously.

Now is the perfect time to make an appointment with a primary care physician. Whether you live in Illinois or Wisconsin, it’s easy to find a doctor near you.