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Sleep

When your brain takes revenge at bedtime

Late-night procrastination can quietly erode sleep — and your health. Here's how to break the cycle.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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A young woman uses her smartphone while lying in bed in a dimly lit room.

As the caregiver for her chronically ill husband, Eileen was nothing short of exhausted by the time he fell asleep each night. But that didn't stop her from staying up late, often reading romance novels into the wee hours to steal some personal time that had nothing to with her daily responsibilities.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is the executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website. … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of John Winkelman, MD, PhD

John Winkelman, MD, PhD, Contributor

Dr. John Winkelman is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and chief of the sleep disorders clinical research program in the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Winkelman received his PhD in … See Full Bio
View all posts by John Winkelman, MD, PhD
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