You can't wake up early because of a misaligned circadian rhythm, not getting enough quality sleep (due to late nights, screens, caffeine, stress), having a natural "night owl" tendency (chronotype), or underlying medical/mental health issues like sleep apnea, depression, or anxiety. Poor sleep hygiene (inconsistent schedules, blue light) disrupts your body's internal clock, making mornings feel brutal, while things like shift work or certain medications worsen the problem.
How to wake up at 5am: 8 ways to become more of an early bird
Exact sleeping times will vary between people, but for the majority, the best quality of sleep is achieved at night, going to sleep between 10 p.m. to midnight and waking around 7 a.m. Many people need to go to sleep earlier; a few natural “night owls”can go to sleep a little later, provided they can consistently sleep ...
There are many reasons for this, which can range from sleeping disorders like hypersomnia or sleep apnea to medication to health issues blood sugar/ cortisol/ hormone imbalance, to age, to weight, or many more. The point it that the are too many p...
The book is written as a fable, but the core message is Sharma's advice to wake up at 5 A.M. and follow his 20/20/20 rule. That is: spend the first hour of your day doing 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of reflection, and 20 minutes of learning.
The 3-2-1 bedtime method is a simple sleep hygiene strategy: stop eating 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, and stop using screens (phones, tablets, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping your body transition to rest by reducing stimulants and digestive load for better sleep quality. A more detailed version adds 10 hours (no caffeine) and 0 (no snoozing) for a 10-3-2-1-0 rule.
Signs of poor core sleep (deep, restorative sleep) include waking up foggy, daytime fatigue/energy crashes, poor concentration, irritability, frequent illness, memory issues, and mood swings, indicating your brain and body aren't fully repairing and consolidating memories. You might also experience increased sugar cravings, slow muscle recovery, and a weakened immune system.
While everyone occasionally sleeps in, chronic oversleeping — needing 10, 11 or more hours regularly — can be linked to underlying health issues. “Conditions like thyroid disorders, anemia or sleep apnea can all lead to excessive fatigue and longer sleep durations,” says Dr. Namon.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D, iron, and magnesium, are among the most common causes of unexplained fatigue. Vitamin D deficiencies affect over 50% of the global population, and approximately 12.5% have iron deficiency anemia.
According to research published in the European Heart journal, going to sleep between 10pm and 11pm is linked to a lower risk of heart and circulatory disease.
Whether you prefer a cold drink or a warm bedtime drink, here's our list of the best drinks before bed to help you drift off.
[15] A complete sleep cycle takes roughly 90 to 110 minutes. The first REM period is short, and as the night progresses, longer periods of REM and decreased time in deep sleep (NREM) occur.
The "3-2-1 Bedroom Method" (or a variation like the 10-3-2-1 rule) is a sleep hygiene strategy to improve rest by staggering when you stop certain activities before bed: stop heavy food/alcohol 3 hours before, stop work/mental stress 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs, computers) 1 hour before sleep, creating a better wind-down for your body.
Sleep deprivation symptoms include cognitive issues (poor focus, memory, decision-making), mood changes (irritability, anxiety, depression), physical signs (fatigue, yawning, headaches, weakened immunity), and performance deficits (slowed reactions, increased mistakes, accidents). Severe deprivation can even lead to hallucinations or psychosis, while long-term lack of sleep impacts weight, heart health, and hormonal balance.
The koala is famous for sleeping around 20-22 hours a day, which is about 90% of the day, due to their low-energy diet of eucalyptus leaves that requires extensive digestion. Other extremely sleepy animals include the sloth (up to 20 hours) and the brown bat (around 20 hours), with some snakes like the ball python also sleeping up to 23 hours daily.
On average, Japanese sleep about 7 hours and 20 minutes a night, - the least among 33 OECD member countries. And the number of insomniacs is growing. But even as more people suffer from insomnia, help can be hard to find.
Gen Z stays up late due to a combination of technology (blue light, endless content), significant stress and anxiety (FOMO, financial/global worries), biological shifts (natural teenage circadian rhythm), and "revenge bedtime procrastination," where they sacrifice sleep for personal time, often in bed, scrolling social media. This digital-heavy, high-stress lifestyle creates overstimulation and a misalignment with natural sleep patterns, leading to chronic sleep deprivation, notes the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Health Foundation.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.
Simply put, microsleep is when you fall asleep for a period of several seconds. As the name implies, microsleep occurs so quickly that people who have an episode might not even realize they have fallen asleep. Microsleep can occur at any time of day, not just at night.
Waking up often throughout the night and lying awake for several minutes. Having trouble concentrating during the day. Experiencing hunger more often. Experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder such as snoring or gasping for air.
Yes, the Navy SEAL sleep trick (an 8-minute power nap with elevated legs) is a real technique for quick rest, popularized by former SEAL Jocko Willink, that helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue, though its effectiveness depends on individual relaxation skills and it's not a substitute for full nighttime sleep. The method involves lying down, elevating your feet above your heart (on a chair or couch), relaxing facial muscles, dropping shoulders, and clearing your mind for about 8-10 minutes to promote relaxation and blood flow, preventing grogginess.
In his piece, he revealed that through his years of research, he's found that rumination is the biggest thing that causes poor sleep. He says that being worried about something at night has affected his own ability to fall asleep.
The 80/20 Rule means that you stick to your healthy, consistent sleep schedule 80% of the time. You then can make exceptions to your schedule 20% of the time. The 80/20 Rule allows you to “live life” and enjoy those special moments with your family.