How To: Fall Back Asleep After Waking Up in the Middle of the Night

If you wake up in the middle of the night, avoid reaching for your laptop to check emails, or your TV remote to catch a few late-night shows. Instead, keep the light in your bedroom dim and do something relaxing like de-stressing breathing exercises, meditation, light yoga, or going to another room and solving a jigsaw puzzle or listening to relaxing music.

Sometimes stress is what wakes you up, and it may help to write down your to-do list for the next day or simply jot down everything that is on your mind. If the stress of falling back asleep is what keeps you awake, try a simple reverse psychology trick of telling yourself that you want to stay awake for as long as possible.

Be sure to also practice good sleep hygiene, and if the problems persist, seek the advice of your doctor or sleep specialist.

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