Why do I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep?

Short answer
Waking during the night is common, but staying awake can happen.

What’s usually happening
Light sleep or mental alertness makes it harder to fall back asleep.

What this is usually not

• poor sleep quality by default

• something dangerous

Common reasons

• stress or racing thoughts

• late meals or drinks

• routine changes

What usually helps

• staying calm

• avoiding clock-watching

• letting sleep return naturally

When to pay attention
If night waking is frequent and long-lasting.

If your poor sleep feels different, return to main poor sleep page.