Why do we resist sleep even when we are sleepy?

Question

I am a good example of the type of person who resists sleep whenever it's time for me to go to bed. Some children do it too, if not most. Why does the urge to stay awake overcome the need for sleep? Isn't it ideal for the human body to prefer sleep over wakefulness at bed time? Is it just the feeling of not wanting to miss anything, or is there a biological reason for it (other than caffiene)?

Answer 1

Well it could be because you don't want to miss anything. Or you don't like those dreams or afraid of not waking up. Me I like to know what I might be missing.

Answer 2

We are just stubborn. And when we are so sleepy sometimes it is actually troublesome to get ready to go to sleep, so we end up keep doing whatever we have been doing.
But also, there could be a physiological reason for that. I used work with this guy, who had a minor mental disability. He always showed up to work late, because he didn't go to bed early. And he said that going to bed early is something like a punishment for him, as when he was a child adults used to tell him to go to bed early, and if he was to stay up late that was like a treat. That actually applies to most of us, but in his case because of it he stayed up till morning everyday.
As we grow older we become less rebellious unlike this guy, but maybe back in our mind we are still enjoying treating our selves by staying awake even when we are sleepy. And for the same reason, I think some people enjoy waking up late too.

Answer 3

As far as I know, it's in case we miss something. Sleep is the only time of our life when we are at our most vulnerable. We do not sense people around us or might sleep through noise or light. Of course, different people have different sensitivities to things around them. In the morning, I am able to wake up as soon as the door is opened, but I can sleep through a thunderstorm.

It is due to this shut-off from the world that many do not like to go to sleep. Cavemen didn't want to sleep in case they were attacked, presidents and leaders didn't want to sleep in case they were assassinated in their sleep. These days, we just have a natural desire to try to stay awake for as long as posible to minimise our down-time.

Answer 4

You should not resist sleep.In the long run it may harm u &ur body.Sleep is necesary for every one in the world.It releases all tensions &stress &makes us relaxed.It helps us go in a dreamworld where anything is possible.Even impossible.NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE coz the word itself says I m Possible

Answer 5

I think it's that feeling of you might miss something, (it's a sign of feeling a lack of something, an emptiness) it is also a lack of discipline and you feel you need to feel some thrills, it is psychological, you should ask yourself what is important to you right now and analyze your goals as well as your accomplishments and/or what you are trying to accomplish.

Answer 6

I, for one, am scared of wasting my life. I don't want to sleep for 8 hours a day and I don't want to sleep for one third of the short life that we have!!! Sleep is important, but there is lots of time to sleep when one is dead!!!

Answer 7

because we are stubborn and there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything we woulds like

That's the one advantage of being an insomniac, its quiet at night and there's an awful lot of time when you are the only one awake

Answer 8

We're afraid of missing something.

Answer 9

might miss something

Answer 10

I do this a lot......My reason is Stella I think!