Getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep can be rare, but it’s important for feeling rested and productive the next day. Many believe that simply going to bed on time will ensure good sleep, yet it’s common for people to wake up between 3 and 5 in the morning. For some, falling back asleep during this time can be a struggle.
This recurring pattern is not just coincidence or bad luck. There is a special significance to waking up during these early morning hours.
This period, from 3 AM to 5 AM, is often called the “hour of the wolf,” a term inspired by the famous Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s psychological horror film. Bergman described this hour as “the time between night and dawn when sleep is deepest and nightmares feel most real.” It is said to be when sleepless people face their worst fears and when supernatural forces are strongest. Interestingly, this time is also noted as when many babies are born.
Professor Birgitta Steene explains that the phrase comes from Swedish folklore. The “hour of the wolf” is linked to a higher number of deaths and births and coincides with the body’s deepest stage of rest, which impacts bodily functions profoundly.
In folklore, this time is sometimes called the “witching hour” or “devil’s hour,” associated with ghosts, witches, and other supernatural events believed to be more powerful around this time.
For those who sleep without interruption, this time marks the deepest rest. But for those who wake up, these hours can bring feelings of anxiety and unrest.
The body’s circadian rhythm, which follows a 24-hour cycle tied to daylight, causes physical processes like body temperature, blood pressure, and metabolism to drop during the night. Around 4 AM, these reach their lowest points as the body rests fully.
However, if someone struggles with anxiety, these early morning hours can amplify anxious feelings, causing them to wake up during this naturally low phase.
