If your mind is restless, these are the most sensitive times to feel it. Thoughts can resurface like a movie on repeat: obligations, worries, unforeseen events… It’s often a sign that your mind hasn’t had enough rest during the day.
Cortisol levels, the stress hormone, begin to rise at this time. If these levels are too high too early, they can wake you up in the middle of the night, like an early biological warning .
Hormones dancing without your permission
The human body is an incredible clock, regulated by hormones. But between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., it’s time for major adjustments: a drop in melatonin (the sleep hormone), a rise in cortisol, and sometimes even minor hormonal imbalances (especially in women) that can create discomfort or inner turmoil.
Add to that a feeling of cold, hunger, or simply the urge to go to the bathroom, and waking up is almost inevitable .
