Why do I wake up at 3.30am most nights?

[Coffeeonadrip]

Just that really.
Don't need the toilet.
Sometimes fall asleep straight after, sometimes it takes an hour to fall back asleep.
Not too hot or too cold.
Always at 3.30am or thereabouts.
Has been going on for a couple of months at least.

Any ideas?

It's been happening to me, but only since I had Covid. Once in a blue moon before that.

Try magnesium - 20 mins before you go to sleep - deep restorative sleep and supports 90 other functions in the body . I'm not a magnesium salesman but evangelical about it because of the difference it made for my sleep and quality of sleep

If you do wake up feeling awful and tired try yoga nidra ( videos on YouTube ) it's like a little sleep hack / power nap ..

What about a regular plane overhead? This happened to me for weeks until one night when I was sleeping less soundly than usual I thought I heard a plane - went on the flight radar website and sure enough there is a regular passenger plane over our house at that time of the morning I hadn't heard it before because by the time I was awake enough the plane was much further away.

@Dilbertian

It's been happening to me, but only since I had Covid. Once in a blue moon before that.

Yes, very regularly after Covid for four months. It stopped as soon as I made a GP appointment.

I used to do this. Sometimes comes back when I'm anxious. So has been back this week.
Don't look at your phone when you wake up. I found it just prolongs the waking up. Listening to podcasts through sleep headphones is great for getting back to sleep and breaking the habit.

When I was having trouble sleeping and was doing some talking therapy we discussed this and it's to do with your sleep cycles. It only becomes a problem once you don't go back to sleep. You notice you wake up and check the time and it's half 3 and your brain thinks 'great now I'm up' and then you can't sleep and it turns into a habit.

The best thing you can do is not look at your phone. And listen to sleep podcasts like the poster above suggests. There's loads on youtube

Same here at exactly that time!

I take magnesium too (find it good)

My gynaecologist said it was temperature fluctuations that cause me to wake.

Fascinating article about biphasic sleep.
I also wake up at that time.

@Longcovid21
www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

Absolutely fascinating and makes so much sense!

@Coffeeonadrip

Just that really. Don't need the toilet. Sometimes fall asleep straight after, sometimes it takes an hour to fall back asleep. Not too hot or too cold. Always at 3.30am or thereabouts. Has been going on for a couple of months at least.

Any ideas?

It is a sign of low level depression Op. Are there things you are worrying about ?

@AngelinaFibres A few of the responses resonate.
I did have covid in December.
I did lose my mother just before Christmas.
Work is insanely busy.
I don't drink enough so probably dehydrated too.

Thanks everyone!

I think my night-time waking is due to hormonal changes (feeling hot), toilet trips and a snoring husband. I can't remember the last time I slept for seven hours straight.

Happens to me too.
Magnesium can be helpful

@Frollop

Happens to me too. Magnesium can be helpful

What dose, do you know Frollop?

@IsFuzzyBeagMise 375mg a day. Mine is combined with 1.4mg of B6 which is supposed to help with mood.
Take about a hour before bed.

Do not exceed daily dose. Consult GP if breast feeding, pregnant, planning to be pregnant or taking any prescribed medicines.

Me too. For years and years and years. And I know that when I look at the clock it’ll be the blood same.

It’s always 3.42am exactly. Every single bloody time.

I’d love to know why or how this happens.

Thank you @Frollop. I'm taking Menopace so I need to take that into account.

Yep. Exactly the same here. For years and years. I had read the BBC article too. I have kind of just made my peace with it. It's about 3.30am to 5/5.30am every night. I just lie there... waiting to go back to sleep. It's a real sense of joy if (extremely occasionally - maybe once a month?) I sleep right through. I've just put it down to not needing a lot of sleep. I've never been to the doctor about it. I tried the magnesium body cream, hasn't helped. But as I say, I have just accepted it.