6 Reasons Why You Sleep Late

These days I get limited sleep, I even find it hard taking quick naps either in the taxi or at the office or wherever. (I guess that’s unprofessional). I see people with bulgy eyes every day because they lack sleep. 
Can we flash back a little bit to the 90s where the practical proverb “Early to bed, early to rise” emerged?

To be sincere, there was nothing pretty interesting to keep one up late in this part of the world (Nigeria) unless you are a book lover (novels, educational textbook or magazines). Radio stations closed early (10:00pm/12:00 am), the ones that close late were more of music than late night talk shows. On the other hand, television stations close after showing late night movies (I so loveeeeeeee the choice of movies then) and boom off to bed.

Outside those who were prestigious to enjoy colourful TV set and humble parents who allow their kids to stay awake late night, them no born you well to be awake by 10 pm in some other homes.

In Contrast, today’s world is a different ball game; some children stay awake till 1 am doing what? If they were reading educative books or doing something productive its understanding but it’s not only kids who are guilty, you and I are.

So let’s dive in quick and have a look why we don’t sleep early these days.

Smart Insight uploaded a data lately “What Happens Online in 60seconds;

I) 4 million search queries per minute

II) 1,440 Wordpress posts are published

III) Facebook users share 3.3millions pieces of content

IV) 205 million emails sent

V) 500 hours of videos uploaded to YouTube

VI) Twitter users tweet nearly 448,340 times

VII) Instagram users post nearly 65,555 new photos

Wow, that’s a whole lot going on as we speak. Same way this article is keeping you awake which ever country you are reading this is the same way I keep encouraging the vampire squad cos I have access to a laptop, the internet and a blog lol.

I) Social media

Smart Insight info-graphics stated, “29million WhatsApp are messages sent per second”.

I came across an article in VOA (Social Media is Keeping Young Adults Awake). Below are the following facts…

A new study has found that social media could be affecting the sleep of young adults. The study is a project of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine. Questionnaires were issued to 1,800 participants aged 19 to 32. Thirty percent (30%) of the study’s participants reported having serious problems with sleeping. Those people who used social media a lot were three times more likely to have a sleep disorder. And those who spent the most time on social media were two times as likely to suffer from sleep disturbances.

Researchers say social media can influence sleep patterns in a number of ways.

I) People can lose sleep by staying up too late looking at social media.

II) Social media can cause "emotional, cognitive or physiological excitement”.

III) An electronic device can interfere with a body’s natural sleep rhythms because of the light coming from cell phones or computer screens.

Presented by Coupofy

II) Newsletter/emails

The email buzz from newsletters is never enough. A day I receive up to 30 newsletters referring me to their websites or talking about a promo, bonus, webinar, workshops or anything interesting I sign up for.

Sometimes I try to use my nights to catch up what I couldn’t read during the day and this just makes it worse, the more I read the more I get linked to other websites and boom!!! my dopamine gets stimulated then I get carried away and the time has gone midnight.

III) Websites

While reading an article in a website, you click on another story/article/news referring you to another. The web ecosystem is so vast and linked that net surfing is simplified, interesting and easy to get carried away.

Very soon everyone will own a website, the rise of websites, blogs can’t be over emphasised. On this note, if you are new into blogging or you wanna start yours. Hola me.

IV) Cable networks/ Internet Televisions

I remember one time when our antenna was catching some one’s cable network omg it was on point. Another time, we connected a long a cable to our neighbours DSTV across the street so that we can get entertained but today cable networks come in various varieties to suit your pocket.

Arab SAT, GOtv, Startimes, DSTV name it, free to air satellites are increasing. I still have MBC2, MBC Max, MBC Action till date and indeed its really worth it.

On the other part, YouTube has 500hours of videos shared per minutes. Due to easy access to Netflix, Google play, Vudu which showcases mega-blockbusting shows, animations and super slick graphical movies, sleep just became extinct.

V) Video games

I’m guilty of this one. Starting from 2013, hot titled video games like The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto V, Tomb Raider: A Survivor is Born, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty Ghost, Metro Last light…name it…they broke the verge of art itself.

These games storyline, graphics, combat, realism is worth sacrificing millions of years of sleep. How much more hot titles that came out last year 2016 Uncharted 4, Dark Souls III, Mafia III, Hitman and now this year is turning up to be fabulous.

Phew… so much to play.

VI) Coffee

How can I leave the main reason why we sleep late these days? Coffee is the new drug man has become acquainted with which is legally adopted, drank and shared.

When I was little, coffee was for only adults but these days even children consume caffeinated beverages and snacks without knowing. The level of caffeinated beverages are also on the rise all because brands plan to stimulate their customers literally. 

Now you understand why sleep escapes us.

Wrap up

Most of us are exposed to social media, newsletters, websites, cable networks, video games and coffee all at ones just like me causing our dopamine to explode in excitement causing us to know no sleep.

I believe strong discipline will help limit the stress we put on ourselves. Lately, I try sleeping early and I can measure a great reward. 

For those you who aren't bats share on the comment tab how you get to bed early. 

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