It’s not uncommon to wake up in the middle of the night, whether from a bad dream or for a bathroom break. Sometimes, we don’t even remember waking up during the night come morning. So, how many wakeups are considered normal? To find out, we asked sleep and health psychologist Joshua Tal, Ph.D.
The lowdown on nightly wakeups.
The good news is, it’s completely normal to wake up during the middle of the night, even more than once. As Tal explains to mbg, this actually used to be the norm. Before the Industrial Revolution, he says, “We would go to bed a little bit earlier than we do nowadays, and we would basically wake up in the middle of the night, go to the bathroom, hang out, maybe have a cup of tea, and then go back to sleep and sleep in a little bit.”
When we began consolidating our sleep post–Industrial Revolution, he adds, is when more sleep issues rose to prominence. However, he says, waking up in the middle of the night doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing out on deep sleep: “Usually you’re waking up between stages of sleep, so you’re not really interrupting anything.” It’s easier to wake up during light sleep (stages 1 or 2), from a noise or the need to pee for example, and that’s completely normal, he says.
Now, if you’re waking up four to five times a night, he adds, that might indicate your sleep cycle is off or you may need to enhance your sleep hygiene. In addition to that, it shouldn’t take much longer than 15 to 30 minutes to fall back asleep. So, if you’re dealing with many wakeups or can’t fall back asleep, that’s when you may need to work with a professional, such as a sleep psychologist.
While occasional nightly wakeups are totally normal, that doesn’t mean they aren’t annoying. If yours are bothering you, you’ll be happy to know there are lots of things you can do to help out.
First, make sure your bedroom temperature is around 65 degrees—any warmer and you’ll be more prone to restlessness and nightmares, according to research. You also want to be careful about drinking too much water before bed.
Finally, targeted sleep-supporting supplements, such as mbg’s sleep support+, which combines magnesium bisglycinate, jujube, and PharmaGABA®, can help you get deeper and more rejuvenating sleep with fewer wakeups.*
Those who have tried the product agree, with one reviewer noting, “As a mom, I thought waking up throughout the night was normal. Fast-forward to now; my children are grown and married; [I’m] still waking up throughout the night. sleep support+ provides a full, wonderful night’s sleep for me.”*
Another mbg sleep support+ customer shares, “This magnesium works for me, I’ve been taking it for about a month, and I don’t wake up during the night like I used to!”*
Long story short, waking up a lot during the night isn’t necessarily a reason to worry. There are plenty of solutions out there to ensure you can get to sleep, make it through the night, and wake up feeling rested. However, if you are waking up more than four to five times a night and/or having trouble falling back asleep, you might want to consult a professional.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.