A sleep specialist has identified a key mistake to avoid if you find yourself waking up during the night.
Many people experience restlessness at night, but there’s one major misstep you should steer clear of if you’re prone to waking up easily.
For those who can, going right back to sleep might not be a challenge, but it’s a different story for others.
A physician has issued a warning against a certain action if you’re someone who spends time awake due to sleep interruptions.
Dr. Biquan Luo, CEO of LumosTech, shared with the New York Post: “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.”
Reaching for your phone when you can’t sleep might be tempting. After all, scrolling through TikTok for a few hours might seem like an easy way to pass the time.
However, the sleep authority advises against engaging with social media during nighttime awakenings.
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 specialist, Dr. Fiona Barwick, director of the Sleep & Circadian Health Program at Stanford University School of Medicine, has previously suggested a better approach than dwelling on your sleeplessness.
She told Self: “Thinking about the fact that you’re not sleeping can rouse your mind and make you more anxious. A better move is to accept your situation – don’t resist being awake – and find an alternative focus.”
An additional expert emphasized that remaining in bed when sleep eludes you isn’t advisable.
Luis F. Buenaver explained to John Hopkins Medicine: “Doing this will lead your brain and body to associate your bed with wakefulness instead of with sleep.”
“Although it can be challenging to leave a cozy bed in the middle of the night, view this step as an investment in improved sleep quality – if not tonight, then tomorrow night and beyond.
“Find a comfortable chair in another room and settle there.”