Have you ever stayed up way too late binging on a TV show, playing games or reading the latest trashy novel? You are very tired and keep telling yourself you should go to bed, but you don’t. Then you pay for it the next day because you end up sleep deprived.

This behavior, while not entirely new, has seen increases during COVID and has received its moniker. The revenge part of it is typically due to the fact you feel your high-stress, time-consuming job has robbed you of your free, fun or “me” time. You feel entitled to a little fun.

But this fun comes at a cost, and if it happens continuously, you can face the issues that come along with chronic sleep deprivation.  To prevent sleep procrastination, try the following:

• Recognize what you are doing.  Occasional sleep procrastination is okay, but repeatedly can become a problem.
• Focus on a sleep schedule.  If you go to bed every night at 10:00 pm, then you may be too tired to stay up to all hours of the night.
• Tackle the real issue—not enough “me” or entertainment time during the daylight hours. Look to your schedule to get better control of your working hours or find time for pleasure.