REM sleep is also when your brain becomes more active, which is why those early morning hours (between 3 and 5 AM) are prime time for unexpected wakefulness. Your mind might be working through a backlog of emotions or unfinished thoughts from the day.
And if you’ve been skimping on rest for a while? That lack of quality sleep starts to snowball. One rough night can lead to another — like a sleep-debt avalanche gaining momentum. The more tired you get, the harder it becomes to sleep well. It’s a frustrating cycle, but there’s science behind it.
Your Chronotype Might Be the Culprit
Not everyone’s internal clock runs on the same schedule. Some people are wired to rise early and feel sharp in the morning (morning larks), while others don’t hit their stride until late at night (night owls). These tendencies are known as chronotypes, and they’re largely influenced by your genetics.
Here’s the twist: modern life doesn’t care about your chronotype. Society often favors early risers — think early work meetings, school drop-offs, or morning workouts. If you’re naturally a night owl but forced into a morning routine, your body might rebel. Waking up at 3 AM could be your system’s way of protesting what scientists call social jet lag — the misalignment between your biological rhythm and your daily schedule.
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