I’ve found myself awake before my alarm clock goes off more times than I can count. It’s often at 4 or 5 a.m., and I attribute my early rising to a fear of oversleeping.

Apparently, it’s a common problem. Google searches for “waking up at 3 a.m.” are high, and TikTok videosabout the phenomenon have between 30,000 and 2.5 million likes.

What causes these late-night disturbances? “Sometimes we overlook the importance of having good sleep habits before we go to sleep,” says Dr. Ana Krieger, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

Good sleep habits include:

• Having a relaxing bedtime routine
• Abstaining from drinking alcohol
• Avoiding caffeine after noon
• Putting away your electronics before your nighttime ritual
• Keeping your bedroom dark, quiet and cool

“Stressors or anxieties that seep in” can disrupt your sleep, too, Krieger says. 

Instead of doing stimulating activities before bed like using your phone, “try not to do much. Try to feel relaxed and embrace that. Because if [you] start worrying about sleep, you’re going to make your sleep worse,” she says.

Certain conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia can also cause problems. If you have concerns about those conditions, speak with a doctor or expert.

Now, if I find myself up before the sun rises, I know not to reach for my phone to check the time or toss and turn. Instead I’ll try deep breathing exercises to relax my mind and hopefully drift back to sleep.

CNBC