Ep 446: How To Stop Revenge Bedtime Procrastination (best of the podcast)

The Perfectionism Project

This episode is one of the most popular episodes on this podcast! Revenge bedtime procrastination is something most perfectionists struggle to stop.

When you’re not planning properly as a perfectionist, you put more business tasks on your to-do list than you have time to complete. Because you want to be productive, you put pressure on yourself to get everything done. But then you don’t know what to do first…

You end up working on a random business task until it’s 80% done (and then get distracted by something else) or you do nothing at all. All the while, you’re feeling guilty that you’re so far behind. You’re thinking about all of the things you should be doing that aren’t getting done (like posting consistently on social media). And you’re trying to catch up on all of the life admin your past self has delegated to you.

Every day has an undercurrent of overwhelm, panic and stress. And with every unproductive day that passes, it only gets harder to trust you’ll get everything done. You’re burned out from all the stopping and starting. And you’re beginning to wonder if you’ll ever change.

But then comes bedtime. You promised yourself you’d get to bed on time but you knew you wouldn’t. But why would you? The hours past bedtime are the only guilt-free time you get to yourself. In the still of the night, you can relax and unwind. Nothing is expected of you. The pressure is off. And you have the promise of a more productive tomorrow.

Here’s the thing – a bedtime alarm or better nighttime routine won’t stop revenge bedtime procrastination. Revenge bedtime procrastination is a symptom of a bigger problem.

Because you haven’t been planning properly…

• You’re putting too much on your to-do list

• You don’t know what’s important and what isn’t

• You can’t trust yourself to follow through on your plans

• You’re trying to catch up on everything your past self put off

• You’re not getting clean rest during the day

When you start planning properly, revenge bedtime procrastination will stop. You’ll be able to wake up at the time you want, without snoozing your alarm. Instead of watching Instagram stories, you’ll do the things you truly want to with your time – turn a corner of your home into the most inspiring workspace for your business. And you’ll finally read all of those books on your bedside table.

Starting on the 6 March 2024 I’m releasing a 5-Part Podcast Series on How To Stop Procrastinating. An episode will be released every other day so make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast.

P.S. You’ll be able to sign up for PGSD when the doors open on 14-21 March 2024.

Find the full episode transcript and show notes at samlaurabrown.com/episode446.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why perfectionists struggle with revenge bedtime procrastination

• The real reason you can’t get to bed on time

• Why setting a bedtime alarm or a better nighttime routine won’t help

• How to stop revenge bedtime procrastination for good

• What will change when you’re planning properly as a perfectionist

Featured In The Episode:

• Free training: How To Plan Properly As A Perfectionist with Power Planning

• Join the waitlist for Perfectionists Getting Shit Done (PGSD) - samlaurabrown.com/pgsd

• Take the perfectionism quiz: samlaurabrown.com/quiz

• Sign up for daily Perfectionist Power-Ups - samlaurabrown.com/power

• Follow me on Instagram @perfectionismproject

Free Training: How To Plan Properly As A Perfectionist With Power Planning

If you want to get shit done without burning out, I invite you to watch the free training I’ve created on how to plan properly as a perfectionist with Power Planning. By the end of the series, you’ll be ready to start using Power Planning today to get your perfectionist mindset on your side so you can get out of your own way. Go to samlaurabrown.com/plan to watch the training today.

Take The Perfectionism Quiz To Get Your Personalised Perfectionism Score

If you’re not sure whether perfectionism is what’s making you get in your own way, I invite you to take The Perfectionism Quiz.

After working with over 1,000 perfectionist entrepreneurs, I created this free quiz so you can get your personalised perfectionism score and discover which of the 5 areas of perfectionism you would most benefit from working on overcoming the most: whether it’s overthinking, procrastination, burnout, all-or-nothing thinking or fear of judgement.

It takes less than 3 minutes to get your unique result and be one step closer to getting shit done without burning out. If you love learning about yourself and you’re ready to get out of your own way, go to samlaurabrown.com/quiz to take the quiz today.

Work With Me:

My coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done (aka PGSD) teaches you how to plan properly as a perfectionist so you can get out of your own way in your business. To find out more about the program and be the first to know when the doors open, join the waitlist today: samlaurabrown.com/pgsd.