Waking up in the middle of the night is something many of us have experienced. While some are lucky enough to fall back asleep quickly, others might toss and turn for what feels like forever.
For light sleepers, getting back to dreamland can be challenging, and there is one mistake you should avoid to help improve your chances of falling asleep again.
“Checking the time can increase stress and make it harder to sleep. Additionally, if you check the time on your phone, the contents of the phone may be too stimulating, which further prevents you from relaxing and falling asleep.”
When you’re lying awake, it might feel tempting to grab your phone to pass the time. After all, a quick scroll through TikTok or Instagram seems harmless, right?
Dr. Luo added: “If you can’t fall back asleep after 10 or 15 minutes, it’s time to get out of bed. Try going to a quiet and comfortable place at home, like the couch, and engage in a quiet, low-stimulation activity, such as reading a book or doing a calming activity, until you feel sleepy again – then return to bed.”
Another expert, Dr. Fiona Barwick, who leads the Sleep & Circadian Health Program at Stanford University School of Medicine, also suggested a better approach. Instead of stressing over your inability to sleep, she recommended shifting your focus to something more calming.
Another sleep specialist weighed in with advice. He emphasized that staying in bed while you’re wide awake might do more harm than good. Luis F. Buenaver explained in John Hopkins Medicine: “Doing this will lead your brain and body to associate your bed with wakefulness instead of with sleep.”
“Sit in a comfortable chair in another room.”
