TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Sleep is one of the basic human needs essential for physical and mental health. However, sleep procrastination is increasingly common in this digital age.
WebMD stated that sleep procrastination refers to a person's desire to skip sleep to get revenge for a busy day by taking time to relax, even if it means sacrificing sleep time.
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Many people realize that they should go to bed earlier, but still delay sleep despite feeling tired. This phenomenon indicates a conflict between the awareness of the need for sleep and the desire to stay active longer.
Various factors cause people to delay sleep. First, the influence of technology is huge, especially with gadgets and social media that always attract attention. Many people get caught up in scrolling through social media or watching videos late into the night.
Secondly, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is one of the main reasons; the curiosity to stay connected or keep up with the latest entertainment makes people not want to miss the moments. Thirdly, the inability to relax after a busy day also contributes.
Often, stress and anxiety make it difficult for the mind to calm down, so people feel the need to do additional activities before bed. Lastly, the bad habit of inconsistent sleep patterns often leads to people not feeling sleepy when they should.
“I often stay up late, especially on weekends, to get revenge for my busy weekdays. Since Saturday is weekend, I feel the need to stay up late and play with my phone until 2 am," Nikmatul, a postgraduate students in one of prestigious university in Malang.
She also said that this habit makes her difficulty to sleep at a normal time and my head often hurts from staying up late. This experience shows how sleep procrastination can hurt one's health and daily life.
Impact of Sleep Procrastination on Health
Delaying sleep has many negative impacts on health. Firstly, sleep deprivation directly affects body and brain function. When the body does not get enough rest, the immune system becomes weak and memory declines.
In addition, sleep cycle disruption occurs when a person frequently changes their sleep schedule, leading to poor sleep quality and the risk of insomnia.
Other impacts also include mental health; people who frequently delay sleep have a higher risk of experiencing stress, anxiety and depression. In fact, research shows that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
Impact on Productivity
The impact of sleep procrastination is not only limited to health, but also greatly affects productivity. Decreased concentration and focus during the day is common among those who don't get enough sleep.
This results in decreased work or study performance, increases the likelihood of making mistakes, and slows down task completion. Continued mental and emotional fatigue will also affect one's mood and motivation, which is detrimental at work and in everyday life.
How to Overcome Sleep Procrastination
Overcoming sleep procrastination requires building healthy sleep habits. Establishing a consistent sleep routine with the same bedtime and wake-up time every day is an important first step.
In addition, limiting screen time before bed by implementing a “screen time” cut-off can help the body prepare for sleep. Relaxation exercises, such as meditation or reading a book, are also very beneficial for calming the mind. It is also important to create a comfortable and supportive sleeping environment, and set time limits for nighttime activities so that sleep is not delayed.
Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining physical and mental health. By paying attention to our sleep habits, we can improve our overall quality of life. Start overcoming sleep procrastination today, and experience the benefits in productivity and health. (*)
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| Editor | : Khodijah Siti |
| Publisher | : Rizal Dani |
