:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Insomnia is being unable to sleep despite wanting to. Revenge bedtime procrastination is choosing to delay sleep despite being able to — trading rest for a few reclaimed hours of freedom. One is a barrier; the other is a gap between what you intended and what you did.
Side by side
| Aspect | Revenge bedtime procrastination | Insomnia |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Intention and action come apart | An inability to sleep |
| Motive | Reclaim free time | None — you want sleep |
| Self-control | Gives in | Not the issue |
| Fix | Autonomy in the day | Often clinical |
What each one means
Revenge bedtime procrastination is deliberately putting off sleep — with no real reason, and knowing it'll cost you tomorrow — in order to claw back some personal free time that a day of other people's demands is felt to have denied you.
Full definition of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination →The contrast above sets out how Insomnia differs from Revenge Bedtime Procrastination on the points that actually matter.