Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: when your trouble sleeping isn't classic insomnia

In this conversation, Vanessa Gorelkin addresses common concerns about sleep, particularly the anxiety surrounding it. She emphasizes the importance of acceptance and self-care in achieving restful sleep, rather than obsessing over it. The discussion covers the impact of sleep debt on health, the phenomenon of revenge bedtime procrastination, and practical tips for fostering a healthier relationship with sleep.

Takeaways

Shift your self-talk from 'I have to sleep' to 'my body will take the sleep it needs.'
Sleep doesn't respond to worrying efforts; it responds to acceptance.
Close your eyes and roll your gaze upward to relax.
Revenge bedtime procrastination is a protest against feeling overwhelmed.
Sleep is a communication from our nervous system, not a report card.
Focus on reducing pressure and calming your nervous system.
One or two rough nights of sleep don't equal long-term damage.
Make one small shift this week to support your sleep.
If you can't fall asleep, pause and accept the moment.
Sleep is about the relationship between you and your body.

Vanessa Gorelkin, MA, OTR/L is a licensed Occupational Therapist with 30 years of experience. She is in private telehealth practice-- providing therapy and coaching services nationally and internationally.

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