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Sleeping has a huge impact in procrastination. The lack of sleep translates into an hyperactive amygdala (which has a big influence in processing emotions and i

Sleeping has a huge impact in procrastination. The lack of sleep translates into an hyperactive amygdala (which has a big influence in processing emotions and impulses) and an under-active frontal cortex (which influences our rational thinking, etc) [1] According to my experience, a good night of sleep is the best cure for procrastination, sadly, our current society don't optimize for sleeping well. --- 1: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316 https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501...

dawhizkid 8y ago
Hm. Not convinced of the link between the two. The article is arguing that procrastination is the proactive delay of making a hard decision to the detriment of our mental wellbeing. A good night's sleep isn't necessarily going to make you want to confront that decision.
- EndXA 8y ago
  Research has shown that there is absolutely a connection between sleep and procrastination, with low-quality sleep increasing the likelihood that people will procrastinate, particularly among people who are naturally prone to procrastination. This is attributed to the fact that sleep is crucial when it comes to replenishing the mental resources that you need in order to self-regulate your behavior effectively. This article contains a summary of research on the topic which came out recently: https://solvingprocrastination.com/study-procrastination-sleep-quality-self-control/ https://solvingprocrastination.com/study-procrastination-sle...
matwood 8y ago
A person should go to bed earlier then. Can't sleep? Then get some exercise and clean up their diet. At some point a person has to take control of their impulses.
- adamnemecek 8y ago
  This is such a simplistic view. Tell that to the doctor in residency. The US work culture sure doesn’t care about you getting rest.
  - matwood 8y ago
    The OP said society, not a doctor in residency. The average amount of TV consumed in the US per day is somewhere around 5 hours. How much time do people spend on Facebook or Twitter every day? Yes, people work a lot and some of those people have terrible commutes. But, that is generally not society as a whole. Just because there are exceptions does not invalidate that the simplistic view is the right answer for most.
    - mjburgess 8y ago
      Most people don't track there sleep well-enough to know its their sleep which affects their willpower. Ignorance does not seem like a character flaw. Ignorance of oneself even, which is what we're often talking about.
    - qntty 8y ago
      I don't know anybody who has time to watch 5 hours of TV per day. Do you?
- Broken_Hippo 8y ago
  1. Why assume the person should sleep earlier? I, personally, am better if I sleep at a much later shift than if I sleep earlier. Not just that, but society works differently than my natural body clock. I can fudge some with good sleep hygiene and attention to waking times, but never enough to make 6-7am natural. Simply "check to see if you are sleeping enough" is a bit better than "sleep earlier". (I don't wake early since I don't have to). 2. Diet doesn't really help sleep. A healthy weight can sometimes help one sleep. Not having heartburn can help one sleep. Otherwise, though, it doesn't do much. 3. Exercise. I know this helps some folks, but I do get activity most days. This does not equate into mroe sleep. 4. An entire boatload of other things can affect sleep, only a few of which has to do with impulses. For example, it is spring and the sun wakes me. This is a temporary thing: I'm in Norway, and the sun is starting to come in the bedroom window. It'll shift soon enough. Health problems exist: Everything from aches and pains to chronic diseases of all sorts to sleep disorders. Sure, a few are lifestyle based, but many of those can have multiple causes. Sleep apnea, for example, is often tied to smoking and/or weight, but can be caused by a slew of other things as well (nerve damage, for example, or issues with one's nose and throat).
  - andreilys 8y ago
    Diet absolutely helps sleep, certain foods make it easier for you to sleep [1]. Exercise also helps with sleep [2] [1]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sleep https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sle... [2] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-does-exercise-help-those-chronic-insomnia https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-does-exercise-h...
- tomhoward 8y ago
  I've spent at least 11 years working to "take control of [my] impulses" when it comes to sleep and other negative behavioural patterns. I've explored everything that the mainstream and heterodox medical/psychological bodies of knowledge can offer up, including exercise, diet and a vast assortment of approaches, some of which you can imagine and some of which you can't imagine. I've had solid success, eventually, but it's taken a huge amount of effort over a long period of time. And I'm in a pretty good position regarding finances, family support and work flexibility. Others aren't so lucky. You should tone down the barbed insistence that people should just decide to change. This stuff is hard, and actionable solutions and societal support are very hard to come by for many people.
GoToRO 8y ago
I agree. Beeing motivated but without a good sleep it's like a runner showing up to the race with a broken leg. I'm sure there are many types of procrastinating but this is the most common for me.
gabbygab 8y ago
I'm not so sure. I think poor quality sleep and proscrastination are a symptom of not wanting to do something. Poor quality sleep never got in the way of me doing the things I wanted to do. Whether it is prepping for a field trip I was excited about or waking up in the middle of the night to watch a livestream of esports game or anything I was interested it. It's only chores, jobs or studying for something I wasn't interested in that I always put off til tomorrow. And things like meetings at works I wasn't looking forward to always contributed to poor quality sleep. Rather than being the cause, I suspect poor quality sleep is a symptom.
sjapkee 8y ago
I have the opposite experience. As soon as I started to sleep for more than 8 hours, I basically stopped doing something other than work and sleep. Just do not feel the need.

dawhizkid 8y ago

Hm. Not convinced of the link between the two. The article is arguing that procrastination is the proactive delay of making a hard decision to the detriment of our mental wellbeing. A good night's sleep isn't necessarily going to make you want to confront that decision.

EndXA 8y ago
Research has shown that there is absolutely a connection between sleep and procrastination, with low-quality sleep increasing the likelihood that people will procrastinate, particularly among people who are naturally prone to procrastination. This is attributed to the fact that sleep is crucial when it comes to replenishing the mental resources that you need in order to self-regulate your behavior effectively. This article contains a summary of research on the topic which came out recently: https://solvingprocrastination.com/study-procrastination-sleep-quality-self-control/ https://solvingprocrastination.com/study-procrastination-sle...

matwood 8y ago

A person should go to bed earlier then. Can't sleep? Then get some exercise and clean up their diet. At some point a person has to take control of their impulses.

adamnemecek 8y ago
This is such a simplistic view. Tell that to the doctor in residency. The US work culture sure doesn’t care about you getting rest.
- matwood 8y ago
  The OP said society, not a doctor in residency. The average amount of TV consumed in the US per day is somewhere around 5 hours. How much time do people spend on Facebook or Twitter every day? Yes, people work a lot and some of those people have terrible commutes. But, that is generally not society as a whole. Just because there are exceptions does not invalidate that the simplistic view is the right answer for most.
  - mjburgess 8y ago
    Most people don't track there sleep well-enough to know its their sleep which affects their willpower. Ignorance does not seem like a character flaw. Ignorance of oneself even, which is what we're often talking about.
  - qntty 8y ago
    I don't know anybody who has time to watch 5 hours of TV per day. Do you?
Broken_Hippo 8y ago
1. Why assume the person should sleep earlier? I, personally, am better if I sleep at a much later shift than if I sleep earlier. Not just that, but society works differently than my natural body clock. I can fudge some with good sleep hygiene and attention to waking times, but never enough to make 6-7am natural. Simply "check to see if you are sleeping enough" is a bit better than "sleep earlier". (I don't wake early since I don't have to). 2. Diet doesn't really help sleep. A healthy weight can sometimes help one sleep. Not having heartburn can help one sleep. Otherwise, though, it doesn't do much. 3. Exercise. I know this helps some folks, but I do get activity most days. This does not equate into mroe sleep. 4. An entire boatload of other things can affect sleep, only a few of which has to do with impulses. For example, it is spring and the sun wakes me. This is a temporary thing: I'm in Norway, and the sun is starting to come in the bedroom window. It'll shift soon enough. Health problems exist: Everything from aches and pains to chronic diseases of all sorts to sleep disorders. Sure, a few are lifestyle based, but many of those can have multiple causes. Sleep apnea, for example, is often tied to smoking and/or weight, but can be caused by a slew of other things as well (nerve damage, for example, or issues with one's nose and throat).
- andreilys 8y ago
  Diet absolutely helps sleep, certain foods make it easier for you to sleep [1]. Exercise also helps with sleep [2] [1]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sleep https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sle... [2] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-does-exercise-help-those-chronic-insomnia https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-does-exercise-h...
tomhoward 8y ago
I've spent at least 11 years working to "take control of [my] impulses" when it comes to sleep and other negative behavioural patterns. I've explored everything that the mainstream and heterodox medical/psychological bodies of knowledge can offer up, including exercise, diet and a vast assortment of approaches, some of which you can imagine and some of which you can't imagine. I've had solid success, eventually, but it's taken a huge amount of effort over a long period of time. And I'm in a pretty good position regarding finances, family support and work flexibility. Others aren't so lucky. You should tone down the barbed insistence that people should just decide to change. This stuff is hard, and actionable solutions and societal support are very hard to come by for many people.

GoToRO 8y ago

I agree. Beeing motivated but without a good sleep it's like a runner showing up to the race with a broken leg. I'm sure there are many types of procrastinating but this is the most common for me.

gabbygab 8y ago

I'm not so sure. I think poor quality sleep and proscrastination are a symptom of not wanting to do something. Poor quality sleep never got in the way of me doing the things I wanted to do. Whether it is prepping for a field trip I was excited about or waking up in the middle of the night to watch a livestream of esports game or anything I was interested it. It's only chores, jobs or studying for something I wasn't interested in that I always put off til tomorrow. And things like meetings at works I wasn't looking forward to always contributed to poor quality sleep. Rather than being the cause, I suspect poor quality sleep is a symptom.

sjapkee 8y ago

I have the opposite experience. As soon as I started to sleep for more than 8 hours, I basically stopped doing something other than work and sleep. Just do not feel the need.