Do You Often Wake Up Between 2-4 AM? Here’s What It Means

Do you often wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep? Many people wake up too early and won’t return to good rest until much later - if it happens at all. Today we’ll find out why!

Sources:
 
Circadian Rhythms
 
Why You Wake At The Same Time Every Night
 
What Is Deep Sleep and Why Is It Important?
 
Natural Patterns of Sleep
 
Why Do I Wake Up at the Same Time Every Night

Chief Editor: Tristan Reed
Voice Over: Troy W. Hudson

[zilcher]

Let me save you 10 minutes. STRESS is why you wake up between 2-4.

[colorfulshow]

Whoever is reading this, I pray that whatever you’re growing through gets better and whatever you’re battling with makes your situation better as you’re continuing to be a better person each day. I have faith that you’ll turn out great as your circumstances will change. Have a fantastic day! You got this! 🤗💪🏼❤

[ayushgoyal]

This video was so boring I fell asleep for 8 hrs straight without waking up between 2-4 AM. Thank you TopThink team for solving my problem, you are the best.

[mrs.g.]

I'm grateful to live in a quiet rural town with very little light pollution. Lots of times I wake up at around 2 am to use the bathroom. If it's a beautiful starry night, I drink a little milk and gaze at the stars and hear the occasional owl. This peaceful interlude usually helps me resume my sleep.

[shawnjbray]

I’ve learned to stretch every muscle before bed. That definitely helps relax my body enough to sleep better

[Daoistify]

Actually, I enjoy waking up in the middle of the night and have all my life. 11-3 and 3:15 to 6-7 am. I get up, pee, eye drops, sip of water enjoy the stillness, peace and quiet then back to sleep. Works for me without any detrimental effects.

[heronimousbrapson]

I find my sleep becomes more erratic as I've gotten older. Sometimes I get a good night's rest, other times I lay awake for hours. Deep sleep becomes less frequent and dozing off in the day time becomes more of a "thing". And don't get me started on the twice - yearly switches between standard and daylight saving time.

[yocarter]

I hate waking up between 2 and 4. then i can't fall back asleep. when i eventually do, then I'm struggling to get up for work

[BoberMcBoberson]

I enjoy it. It’s the only time I have to myself when nothing is expected of me 🤣

[candlesboat]

In Eastern Medicine this specific 2-4 am wake cycle is considered a sign of "adrenal fatigue." Good basic suggestions here but for me it was important to learn about the process of healing adrenal fatigue. You wake up because the adrenals are starving. It helped me to have a small protien/carb balanced snack when I woke up in the night (like a peanut butter cracker, just a few bites) or even just before bed to prevent waking up. In Eastern Medicine the ideal time to sleep and support the healing of the adreanals is 7-9am and this helped me a lot too. Good luck to anyone out there suffering from insomnia and sleep issues. Hope maybe this helps too!

[marlons]

To anyone dealing with this. I go to sleep at 11pm. So for me 9pm comes no more phone. No more tv. I prepare my things for the next day. 10pm I'm in bed i do my 20 min meditation. Then I read till my eyes are just shutting on their own. Do this every night especially on nights where you will get to sleep in the next day. Unfortunately I have a very stressful job and if I don't do this I will wake up randomly at 3am. And I'll remember I was dreaming about work. I'll have a terrible day because I won't be able to concentrate because I'm so tired. It's a chore but it's the only thing that works for me. I know it's stress because it's peak season for me and I'm dealing with it right now.

[jessyflorezwitchcraftsigaw]

I just woke up 30 minutes ago, and i found this content

[JM-kqle]

I sleep 7 hrs in a 24 hour period
Four hours in the early AM and 3 hrs late afternoon into evening. My body likes this...and it's very efficient.

[Dogsnark]

I am one of those 2 - 4 wake-uppers. It is so depressing to go through the day feeling tired. I have a bad habit of getting into bed and using my iPad for awhile before turning off the lights and going to sleep. Tonight…no iPad. Just pet my kitty and and call it a day. I hope this helps.

[barbc]

We wake up because people have always done so.

It used to be known as “first sleep” at “second sleep”. There are even old accounts that mention these terms. Sleeping eight hours at a stretch is an invention of the Industrial Revolution, when workers needed to be on the clock for their shift.

The wakefulness in between was ideal for praying, meditation, a snack- even visiting the neighbors! This last idea doesn’t go over well nowadays.

[QueenOfTheGreen]

It means your sleep paralysis demon is trying to contact you about your car's extended warranty.

[joyjones]

For me, all addictions, habits, subconscious thoughts and guilty pleasures are just more pleasurable between 2-4 in the morning. Plus, I feel more alive under the cover of night.

[nickcampbell]

I work 3rd shift. I stay awake after my last day, almost 26 hours, until night but still wake up at 2am. I always just thought I was waking up at that time because that was my normal lunch time.

[TamTam-pued]

Thank you and thank you so much for sharing it’s a beautiful simple explanation.please keep the good work .

[randywise]

When I wake up at that time, it is usually because my prostrate says I need to go. Getting old sucks. When I was young, I needed only 4 or 5 hours of sleep. The older I get the easier it is to sleep at any time.