For the last week or so, I’ve been waking up several hours earlier than normal and not being able to get back to restful sleep. I’ve never had this problem before, I’m just getting more exhausted by the day because I’m not getting to sleep much earlier
Then I find out other people are experiencing the same thing, same timeframe - around a week ago it just started for seemingly no reason
I awaken naturally at 4am with or without an alarm. But it has always been this way for me. I was raised on a farm so early rising was always sort of the expectation but it definitely suits my natural rhythms. I do come from a long line of dairy farmers, so there’s probably some selection going on there.
Now for context, I have placed a high priority on sleep hygiene for a very long time. So I usually get 8.5-9 hours of sleep a night. That’s just what experience tells me I need for optimal functioning.
It is a strange life choice. I am not really into nightlife, so I am aware there is an alternate universe of night owls out there, but those worlds rarely collide with mine. I’m ready for a afternoon nap about the time many people start to think about brunch.