Doctor Warns Against This One Thing If You Wake Up at Night

Good sleep habits create the foundation for a restful night. These habits include both your bedroom environment and daily routines that affect your sleep quality. The right practices shape your bedtime routine and daily activities, creating ideal conditions for quality sleep hygiene. But even with excellent habits, you might still experience those frustrating middle-of-the-night wake-ups. Sleep experts have identified one crucial mistake you make when you wake at night.

The Silent Sleep Saboteur

You wake up at night. Your first instinct? Check the time. That glance at your phone or clock might seem harmless. But sleep specialists warn this habit destroys your chances of falling back asleep and undermines sleep hygiene. “Turn your alarm clock to face the wall and resist the temptation to check the time on your smartphone,” advises a sleep expert. “Counting the minutes of missed sleep increases stress and anxiety, which could delay your return to slumber.“

When you check the time, you begin calculating how much sleep you’ve lost. You worry about how little time remains before your alarm. This mental math triggers anxiety. It makes returning to sleep nearly impossible. Your device creates another problem. “Exposure to blue and green light from your clock, phone, tablet, or computer can make you feel more alert,” notes a sleep researcher. This increased alertness prevents you from drifting back to sleep.

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