Consider this: 67% of adults wake up at least once per night, per a global sleep study by Philips Healthcare. Common causes like insomnia and sleep apnea aside, why does it happen to you? Research in the journal Cureus links fragmented sleep to heightened daytime anger and aggression. Stay calm to invite better rest—expert tips follow, starting with reassuring news…
Even if you sleep deeply, everyone endures 5-7 brief awakenings nightly between sleep cycles, explains Shelby Harris, a clinical psychologist, board-certified sleep medicine specialist, and author of The Women's Guide to Insomnia: How to Sleep Well Without Sleeping Pills. “These are entirely normal, often followed by swift re-sleeping and morning amnesia,” she notes.
For healthier sleep, heed the Better Sleep Council's straightforward advice:
– Power down screens 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
– Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
– Maintain a comfortable bedroom temperature, around 18°C.
If awakenings hit at a set time, sleep specialist Terry Cralle urges avoiding the clock: “Keep clocks and phones out of sight. Checking time sparks calculations of lost sleep, fueling anxiety that sabotages slumber,” she says.
Forcing sleep backfires by ramping up stress. Instead, “opt for a low-light, relaxing distraction,” advises Terry Cralle. “It'll lure sleep quicker than ceiling-staring.”
