Judging by the title of this article, you may be thinking that this is going to be a piece about doing the worst possible thing you could imagine to another human being: not allowing them to get enough sleep! But alas, revenge bedtime procrastination may not be what you think it is. Being one of the prime mattress stores in San Diego, we feel that our customers and our readers would benefit from knowing about this phenomenon. The phrase originated from China, called bàofù xìng áoyè (報復性熬夜), by those working the 996 working schedule, which is 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. It sounds like a nightmare worse than the ones where all of your teeth fall out! (Luckily, the Chinese Supreme Court deemed this schedule illegal in August 2021). Daphne K. Lee, a Chinese-American journalist, posted a tweet about revenge bedtime procrastination, calling it “a phenomenon in which people who don’t have much control over their daytime life refuse to sleep early in order to regain some sense of freedom during late night hours.”

So essentially, you may find yourself not having enough time for yourself during the day because you have to go to work or you have a bunch of classes plus exams. Instead of going to sleep even when you are exhausted, you may find yourself scrolling through social media, texting your friends, and watching YouTube videos for hours. This serves as your “revenge” against your busy schedule. As you most likely are already well-aware, staying up on your phone or your computer is not good for your health because of the blue light. If you aren’t convinced yet, you should also know that the quality and quantity of your sleep can play a role in how long you live. Medical Experts at Harvard University reported that “insufficient sleep can ultimately affect life expectancy and day-to-day well-being. An analysis of data from three separate studies suggests that sleeping five or fewer hours per night may increase mortality risk by as much as 15 percent.”

So you’ve realized that you may be experiencing revenge bedtime procrastination, but what can you do about it? We all know that the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. Here are some tips that licensed therapist Kati Morgan has to offer if you are currently suffering from RBP:

If your work schedule negatively impacts your work/life balance, including your ability to sleep, you may want to consider finding a new job. This is easier said than done, but it’s better to start the process of finding a solution than not doing so at all.

Whether or not the first tip is feasible for you, schedule time each week for your “me” time, whether that be doing out with friends or catching up on your favorite Netflix series (but be sure to set a limit on how many episodes you watch!). You may also want to consider making the most of your lunch breaks at work or school, as well as your days off. “When we get busy there is still time for people,” says Kati. “We just have to make more of an effort to squeeze it in.”

Create a bedtime routine to help you wind down before bed, such as taking a shower, putting on your pajamas, or drinking some tea.

And of course, don’t drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol before bed. Water is your best friend!

We’ve Got Your Back (in more ways than one!)

If you feel your mattress is decreasing your nightly quality of sleep, then come on down to Mattress Sale Liquidators, your best choice among all of the mattress stores in San Diego. Our team is essentially our second family away from home, and we have what it takes to find the best mattress on the market just for you. Please call our San Diego mattress store today to book an appointment with us at (619) 760-7031.

Now go to bed, you sleepy head!