# How to stop waking up periodically at night? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780 "2011-10-25T21:12:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![isaiahrobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@isaiahrobinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isaiahrobinson)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/1 "2011-10-25T21:12:07Z")
I started a new job 6 weeks ago which involves getting up at 7am every weekday morning, which I haven’t had to to do for the last two years. But I’m finding that I keep waking up once or twice during the night - I stir awake, roll over to look at the time, see it’s the middle of the night and go back to sleep. Last night it was around 4am and 5am, but it’s been almost every other time as well - as early as 20 minutes after I fall asleep, as late as right before I’m due to wake up, and various times in between. It’s nothing too debilitating - it’s only once or twice a night. But it does make me slightly more tired than I would be otherwise during the day which is mildly annoying. Any suggestions? The room I sleep in is dark; I don’t think there’s any sounds or noises disturbing me (no computer in the bedroom), the bed has a good mattress on it and I get a good amount of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/2 "2011-10-25T21:14:22Z")
What time do you go to bed? How soon before bed is your last food/drink? Do you take any medications at bedtime? Any history of sleep apnea (i.e., do you snore)? Ever tried using white noise (a fan pointed away from you will work as a test)? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/3 "2011-10-25T21:20:19Z")
I had this same problem once, and it was because I was afraid I would oversleep. Even though I had an alarm set, I still kept waking up during the night checking to see the time. Do you have any anxiety about not getting up on time? The problem went away when I moved to a place where I could work out of my house, which meant I could sleep in. From that point on I slept fine through the night. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/4 "2011-10-25T21:20:46Z")
I don’t often wake up during the night, but I’m much more likely to do so if I go to bed earlier than usual. So, if all else fails, try going to bed a little later. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/5 "2011-10-25T21:28:07Z")
A new job can be stressful, even if you’re good at it and like it. You might just adjust in a little more time. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/6 "2011-10-25T21:34:16Z")
Take solace, **isaia**. For my entire adult life, I have had the same “problem”. I wake up several times every night, no matter what. Helps you remember your dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/7 "2011-10-25T21:55:50Z")
I read recently that waking up at night is not a problem in most cases. It becomes a problem when people start worrying about it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/8 "2011-10-25T23:52:29Z")
Exercise every day. Seriously. I sleep much more soundly now (though that means sleeping 3-4 hours without waking instead of 1-2) since beginning to do so myself. However, if you don’t have ADHD, try to do so as soon as you can in the early evening since people with more normal brains don’t fare as well doing it before brain. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/9 "2011-10-26T00:04:27Z")
Consider taking melatonin before you go to bed. (Consult your doctor first, of course) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-waking-up-periodically-at-night/600780/10 "2011-10-26T06:48:26Z")
How old is your mattress? We replaced our mattress with a new latex one, much less bumpy, and we stopped getting up nearly as often, especially if we don’t drink before bed. I think the lumpiness of the old one was irritating enough to make me wake up if I rolled over onto a bump.