When Do You Pro-Cra-Sti-Nate?
Psych 🧠- 322/500
Hey Reader!
This study investigates the event that occurs before procrastination i.e. the tendency to delay the initiation or completion of work activities.
What is it?
The researchers argue that procrastination is a form of self-regulatory failure, meaning people struggle to initiate tasks even when they intend to.
They propose that insufficient sleep can deplete self-regulatory resources, making employees more prone to procrastination.
Specifically, the study explores the impact of:
Sleep quality: How restful and restorative sleep is.
Sleep duration: How many hours employees sleep.
Social sleep lag: The difference between preferred sleep times and work schedules.
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What do I need to know:
It highlights the importance of considering sleep patterns in understanding workplace behavior.
Good sleep quality isn’t just about feeling rested, but also about maximizing our ability to make better decisions.
Poor sleep quality predicts procrastination: Employees were more likely to procrastinate on days after experiencing low-quality sleep.
Social sleep lag amplifies the effect: The relationship between poor sleep quality and procrastination was stronger for employees with a larger social sleep lag (more mismatch between preferred sleep times and work schedules).
Sleep duration was not directly related: The study found no direct link between sleep duration and procrastination.
Key takeaways:
Sleep is crucial for self-regulation at work: Good sleep quality is vital for replenishing resources needed to initiate tasks and resist procrastination.
Social sleep lag matters: Misalignment between our biological clock and work demands can negatively impact self-regulation, making us more sensitive to the effects of poor sleep quality.
Focus on sleep quality over quantity: While sufficient sleep is important, high-quality sleep seems even more critical for combating procrastination.