Waking up in the middle of the night… healthy or not?

I know this was asked a couple of years ago, but it didn’t get many replies, so here it is again.

Some people claim that waking up in the middle of the night is healthy and even natural, mentioning how humans used to do it for things like reading or intimacy before going back to sleep. Others argue that it disrupts REM cycles, makes you tired, and throws off your sleep schedule.

So, is waking up in the middle of the night healthy or harmful? Does it matter what you do during that time (like light activity versus phone use)? Or is it just different for everyone?

Any studies or insights would be really appreciated. Thanks!

If waking up doesn’t make you feel bad or exhausted, it’s probably fine. If your body naturally follows a rhythm where you wake up for a while, and there’s no medical issue behind it, it’s just how you’re wired.

Adding some context:

My sleep has been pretty chaotic over the past 2-3 years, and I don’t wake up in the middle of the night much now. But when I used to have a regular 8-9 hour sleep schedule, I would wake up for a bit during the night quite often. It never bothered me and felt normal.

So, is waking up in the middle of the night a bad thing for me?

There’s some research on this called biphasic sleep. For certain people, it’s completely normal.

Most people naturally wake up briefly between sleep cycles or during the night but don’t remember it. If it happens naturally, it’s unlikely to be harmful.

Might be worth experimenting with it yourself to see how it affects you.