The REAL Reason You Wake Up at Night (WEIRD!)
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 29, 2023
Insomnia is SO frustrating.
But if you find you often wake up between 1 and 3 a.m., you can take comfort in knowing that you’re FAR from alone…
In fact, I can guarantee lots of other folks are sitting up with you.
How can I be SO sure? Well, it’s thanks to a quirk of our biology.
You see, our body temperature drops when we fall asleep to help keep us in a deep sleep. But eventually, our body temperature rises again.
This increase knocks us out of deep sleep somewhere around 2 a.m. (depending on when you hit the hay).
In fact, people who insist they ALWAYS sleep through the night wake up too. But they can roll over and slip back off to sleep so quickly that they often don’t even remember waking.
You can do that too… but only IF you have a plan.
The next time you find yourself awake in the middle of the night, don’t panic. Having an insomnia plan can help you get back to sleep quickly and easily:
- Don’t look at your clock, phone, or other light source. Seeing the light in the middle of the night is a recipe for insomnia. It tells your brain that it’s time to get up.
- Don’t worry. Even if you’re not asleep, your body is restoring itself as long as you lay there and relax. Scientists call this non-sleep state deep rest. And while it’s not AS restorative as sleep, it’s still good for you. One hour of non-sleep deep rest is worth around 20 minutes of sleep.
- Lower your heart rate. An elevated rate can prevent you from falling back asleep. I like using the 4-7-8 breathing technique to bring mine down. To try it, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for seven more counts, and then breathe out for a count of eight.
- Avoid raising your heart rate and triggering the insomnia that goes with it by NOT going to the bathroom (unless you REALLY need to), interacting with your smartphone, reading, or getting up to get water (keep some on the nightstand).
Practice this insomnia-smashing plan consistently, and before you know it, YOU’LL be the one insisting you never wake up in the middle of the night (even if you really do).
P.S. How much sleep DO you need a night? Research has FINALLY revealed the answer. CLICK HERE.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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