TV wind-down could be waking you at 3 a.m.—scientists weigh in
A Tom’s Guide feature by sleep editor Nicola Appleton explains that staying up late and dozing off in front of the TV can blunt your body’s sleep cues, trigger wakeful hormones like cortisol, and lead to 3 a.m. wake-ups. Citing Dr. Joshua Roland and Dr. Matthew Walker, the piece highlights how ignoring natural sleep signals reduces sleep pressure and raises cortisol, especially when combined with evening screen time, light exposure, and late caffeine. It lists three common habits—working late, afternoon caffeine, and falling asleep in front of the TV (a habit an estimated 61% of people share)—that disrupt sleep, and it offers science-based tips to reset your nightly routine and sleep through the night.
- I kept waking up at 3 a.m. until a doctor told me to stop making this common evening mistake — and 61% of us do it Tom's Guide
- 6 Reasons You Keep Waking Up at 3 AM VICE
- Waking up at 3 am every night? Your body is dropping a big hint MSN
- All the things causing you to wake up between 2am and 4am and what you can do tyla.com
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Tom's Guide