Have you been staying up late in the night and consciously delaying sleep to enjoy movies or play games on your mobile simply because you were too busy during the day? This is called Revenge Bedtime Procrastination (RBP).
Behaviour associated with RBP includes the conscious delaying of going to sleep; the absence of a valid reason for staying up late and remaining glued to electronic gadgets – all while being aware of the consequences of insufficient sleep.
Dr Pavan Yadav, Consultant (Interventional Pulmonology, Sleep Medicine and Lung transplantation) with Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, puts it simply: “Bedtime procrastination is viewed as getting “revenge” on a daytime that gives us no leisure hours”. The feeling gained momentum in response to the stress in the pandemic year.
Future research may lead to a better understanding of RBP, but doctors agree that sleep should not be compromised upon. “Sleep is the key to happiness, better memory and concentration, reduced irritability and fatigue,” says Dr Yadav.
Picture Credit : Google
