INDIANA – Many Americans feel their daily routines lack sufficient time for leisure activities, leading over half (51%) to deliberately delay bedtime to gain personal time, despite being aware of the negative health consequences. This phenomenon, often referred to as “revenge bedtime procrastination,” is highlighted in a new study conducted by Amerisleep.com.
The research surveyed 1,000 Americans and found that 56% of respondents feel their daily schedules don’t allow enough time for leisure. In response, many are sacrificing crucial sleep to carve out moments of personal freedom and control over their lives.
The Lure of Late-Night Screens: A major contributor to this sleep delay is the pervasive use of smartphones. Half of all Americans surveyed admitted to staying up late scrolling on their phones when they should be sleeping. This trend is even more pronounced among younger adults, with 59% of Gen Z respondents reporting this behavior. For Gen Z, TikTok (49%), YouTube (47%), and Instagram (42%) were identified as the primary “sleep thieves,” their engaging content loops often overriding the body’s natural cues for rest.
The Cost of Lost Sleep: Burnout: The study also revealed a strong link between insufficient sleep and burnout. Individuals who sleep six hours or less per night reported significantly higher rates of burnout (48%) than those who sleep seven or more hours (34%). This 41% increase underscores the detrimental impact of chronic sleep deprivation.
A Mixed Emotional Response: Despite the known negative consequences, 57% of Americans reported feeling tired but ultimately happy to have reclaimed personal time, while 29% experienced exhaustion and regret the following day. This mixed emotional response may explain why the cycle of revenge bedtime procrastination persists.
Generational Sleep Patterns Vary: The study also examined average bedtimes across different generations. Baby Boomers tend to go to bed at the earliest, with an average bedtime of 11:00 PM. Gen X follows with an average of 11:30 p.m., while Millennials typically turn in around midnight. Gen Z has the latest average bedtime at 12:30 a.m. and reported staying up late more frequently than other generations, averaging four nights per week.
Rosie Osmun, a Certified Sleep Coach at Amerisleep.com, commented, “These statistics reveal a troubling pattern where Americans are trading essential sleep for moments of personal freedom. The high percentage of people reporting burnout among short sleepers shows the real cost of this trade-off.”
Osmun added, “What we’re seeing isn’t simply poor sleep hygiene but a response to feeling time-starved daily. The data showing over half of Americans don’t have enough personal time during the day paints a picture of a society where people feel they must steal from their sleep to gain some control back.”
The study highlights the need for individuals and even specific industries with high rates of personal time deficit, such as legal, hospitality, healthcare, government, and retail, to address the underlying issues contributing to this widespread sleep-sacrificing behavior.
