Anything from shifting hormones to a snoring partner to a stressful day could lead to middle-of-the-night insomnia, a condition where individuals may easily fall asleep at bed time, but may wake again a couple hours later. Some physicians recommend performing these activities to help combat the condition and resume a peaceful night's rest, according to the Detroit News.
1. Don't stay in bed. While it's tempting to think staying in bed will lead you to fall asleep sooner, health professionals say the opposite is true. Getting out of bed to do something calming and relaxing will actually help you get sleepy faster, according to the article.
2. Do watch mindless TV. While some health professionals have touted the importance of shutting down electronics before bedtime, turning on the television in the middle of night may help you return to sleep faster. According to the article, televisions are generally placed at a distance from your eyes and are therefore have a reduced impact on our circadian rhythms. Watching a television sitcom you've seen before may actually help you pass the time until you feel sleepy again.
3. Don't work. According to the article, engaging in work, chores or hobbies when unable to return to sleep may reinforce the notion that the activity serves as a reward for waking up in the middle of night, making it even harder to fall back asleep.
4. Do create white noise. For some, unexpected noises may cause middle-of-the-night wakefulness. Amplifying background noise may help to drown out disruptions, according to the article.
For more suggestions on how to avoid middle-of-the-night insomnia, click here.