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Again and again, we promise ourselves to go to bed early, but instead we watch TV shows, hang out on social networks, read books, answer letters – in short, we delay the moment when we go to bed with all our might. Procrastination before bed: six reasons why you should break this habit.
Procrastination in bed is a relatively new phenomenon that has become a trend of our time, says Floor Kroese, a psychologist at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands), who studies the mechanisms of self-control. “The point is not that a person does not want to sleep, but that he does not want to give up other activities. With the development of electronic devices, various kinds of entertainment have become available around the clock, and people have become much more tempted to stay awake at night than they were a few decades ago,” she says.
Pass the tests
- Are you getting enough sleep?
Crozet and colleagues conducted an online survey of 177 respondents to find out how procrastination before bed affects us. Participants were asked how much they agreed with statements like “I go to bed later than I plan to,” or “When I plan to go to bed, I am easily distracted by other things.” Respondents prone to procrastination found less ability to self-control, it was more difficult for them to get involved in work during the day.
But besides this, falling asleep late also directly harms health, because …
1. Forms the habit of unhealthy eating
When you sit up at night, and pulls something to chew. A study at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine found that people who go to bed and wake up late consume more calories in the evening, eat more fast food, eat fewer fruits and vegetables, and are more likely to be overweight than those who go to bed early. rises.
Read more:
- Procrastination: How to stop procrastinating
2. Leads to sleep deprivation
We all know that for a good rest and recovery, an adult needs from 7 to 8 hours of sleep. “The best, healthiest sleep is when the body follows its natural circadian rhythms,” says Janet K. Kennedy, clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, a sleep disorder website. – If a person’s circadian rhythms are set to go to bed late, then it is at this time that he will have the most quality sleep. The problem arises when circadian rhythms come into conflict with the need to get up early. In this case, a person sooner or later begins to feel a chronic lack of sleep.
3. Weakens the immune system
Lack of sleep, we become more prone to colds and SARS. But this is not the most dangerous. Research conducted jointly by scientists at the University of Chicago and Louisville found that “poor quality sleep with constant awakenings can promote the growth of cancerous tumors and suppress the ability of the immune system to control or destroy them in the early stages.”
Read more:
- Sleep badly – the brain will dry out
4. Reduces melatonin production
This is a very important hormone that helps, in particular, maintain the body’s circadian rhythms. Or, in other words, the work of our biological clock. “Owls” sit at night in the light, which suppresses the production of melatonin. Therefore, if you want to sleep, try to turn off your gadgets and TV a few hours before bedtime.
5. Increases negative thoughts and anxiety
Data from Jacob Nota and Meredith Coles of Binghamton University suggests that people who sleep less and stay up late are more likely to be overwhelmed with negative thoughts than those who follow normal sleep patterns.
6. Leads to sleep disorders
“Most people have periods of real insomnia in their lives,” explains Janet Kennedy. – In a situation of stress, changes in life, loss of sleep problems are quite natural. But this phenomenon is temporary. Another thing is that some people unconsciously adhere to strategies that support insomnia. If they sleep too long after being awake at night, or allow themselves to take a nap during the day, the problem only gets worse.”