There are many reasons why you might be waking up too early. They include external factors, such as environmental disturbances like temperature, light, and noise. They also include internal factors, like your circadian rhythm, sleep disorders like sleep apnea, and/or medical issues, like heartburn.
Studies have shown that the brain sorts out memories in the first half of the night, while the second half is for the emotions. The rising cortisol levels and dealing with emotional events or feelings may be why many people wake up at 3 AM or 4 AM daily.
If you wake up early feeling alert, should you just get up? It depends how early it is. If it is 3am, you should do your best to get back to sleep because if you don't, you're likely to feel tired and irritable later.
The process of aging can cause a person's circadian rhythms, daily bodily fluctuations that include the sleep-wake pattern, to weaken. These circadian rhythm changes can cause disrupted sleep and more daytime tiredness.
Some experts say yes. For starters, getting up earlier can improve confidence, Snowden says, because it can feel like an accomplishment. And there's something to be said for not constantly feeling like you're in a rush, which only elevates stress levels and negatively impacts mental health.
People in pain or discomfort often have difficulty getting deep sleep. Loud noises and bright lights in or near the sleeping environment may also make it difficult to get deep sleep. To get the best possible sleep, sleepers should keep their bedroom dark, quiet, and cool with a comfortable bed and pillows.
The Best Time to Sleep Is Between 8 p.m. and Midnight
To align our sleep schedules with our body's natural cycles (our circadian rhythms), adults should go to bed when it's dark out, after 8 p.m. We also get deeper, more restorative sleep when our sleep time begins before midnight.
All in all, waking up at 3 a.m. may just be a symptom of stress, one too many glasses of water before bed or loud noises outside. But if these wake-up calls become frequent and you can't pinpoint a reason, it may be worth investigating why that invisible alarm is going off in your head.
Although people wake up mid-sleep for many reasons, stress is one of the leading causes. By reducing stress during your waking life, you may be able to get more high-quality rest. In a situation where removing a stressor is impossible, ensuring you practice and prioritize good sleep hygiene can be essential.
Tips for Reducing Morning Anxiety
For instance, you can engage in exercise, which increases endorphins, improves mental focus, and elevates mood. You can also practice meditation or mindfulness, which can improve ability to calm the mind and stop the cycle of anxious thoughts.
Some individuals find magnesium supplements to promote sleep, and a few studies have demonstrated a sleep benefit. Consult with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
Blocking out sound and light to create a dark, quiet environment is one of the best ways to get a restful sleep. Light and sound influence our sleep cycles and can cause us to wake up at night. A prime example of this is street noise or bright lights from outside that can easily wake someone up.
School-age children should go to bed between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. Teens should try to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. Adults should try to go to sleep between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
Most people find that aging causes them to have a harder time falling asleep. They wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning. Total sleep time stays the same or is slightly decreased (6.5 to 7 hours per night). It may be harder to fall asleep and you may spend more total time in bed.
Get enough sleep
For the best chances at waking up early, set a goal for 8 hours of sleep. I want to wake up at 5 a.m., so my sleeping time is 9 p.m. (8 hours before).