TOM’S GUIDE – Waking up after 6 hours of sleep can be due to several factors and a combination of these factors. These are the three most common causes.
1. Stress and anxiety
Mental health can have a huge impact on our sleep, and this includes “stress, anxiety, or an overactive mind (your brain may be alert before your body is ready to be,)” says Dr. Kaylor.
“One of the most common [reasons] that I see as a sleep psychologist is untreated mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma that are not addressed,” Dr. Kaylor explains.
If you think this might be the case, talk to a health professional. They’ll be able to help you understand these issues further and offer solutions.
To ease stress and anxiety at night, create a calming nighttime routine. You could even give sleep meditations a go to practice mindfulness.
2. Poor sleep hygiene
“Another HUGE problem is poor sleep hygiene, like inconsistent bedtimes and heavy meals before bed,” Dr. Kaylor explains.
Sleep hygiene can include “environmental disruptions like light, noise, or temperature, as well as alcohol and caffeine,” she adds.
Examine your daily routine and see if you have any habits that might be impacting your sleep, like working in your bedroom or tucking into a sugary snack right before bed.
3. Dysregulated circadian rhythm
Waking up too early could also be a circadian rhythm issue, Dr. Kaylor says, which means that your internal clock is misaligned.
“One of the most common reasons is changes in our internal clock as we get older. We naturally tend to go to bed a bit earlier and wake up earlier with age, and our sleep also becomes lighter” …
