Reasons and Rationalizations for Bedtime Procrastination in University Students

Abstract

University students are often known for their poor sleeping habits, which have ill-effects on various aspects of their lives. However, causes for this lack of proper sleep are underexplored. In this thesis, I focus on understanding reasons and rationalizations for delaying one’s bedtime when there are no direct external circumstances preventing a person from doing so. I investigate what types of activities students engage in before bedtime, their own reflections on these activities, and their sleep the following night. To this end, I completed a two-week survey and debriefing interview to uncover reasons and rationales for bedtime procrastination. I conclude that screen-time, attention-maintaining activities, and social expectations are key factors in delaying one’s bedtime, and that minimal effort assigned to self-tracking and reflection may enable better sleeping habits, which were found desirable by all participants.