Why You Keep Waking Up Between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

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Waking up during this specific window is incredibly common. While some traditions attribute it to spiritual awakening, from a medical and wellness perspective, it’s usually a signal from your body or mind. The key is to listen to it.

Here are the most likely causes, organized from most to least common.

1. Stress and Anxiety (The #1 Culprit)

This is the most frequent cause. When you’re stressed, your body’s cortisol (a stress hormone) levels can spike prematurely in the early morning hours, pulling you out of sleep.

  • Why it happens: Your body is preparing for the day ahead, and if you have underlying anxiety, this « alarm » can go off too early.

  • The Vicious Cycle: You wake up, start worrying about being tired, which creates more anxiety, making it impossible to fall back asleep.

2. Sleep Cycle MisalignmentContinue reading…

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