Getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep is essential for productivity, but many people wake up between 3:00am and 5:00am, often struggling to fall back asleep.
This is known as the “hour of the wolf,” a term coined by Ingmar Bergman in his psychological horror film.
It’s linked to a period between 3:00am and 5:00am when the body enters its deepest rest, but it’s also when anxiety, nightmares, and supernatural beliefs are heightened.
In Swedish folklore, this time is associated with a higher occurrence of both deaths and births.
The body’s circadian rhythm, which controls sleep and bodily functions, is at its lowest around 4:00am, causing a natural dip in body temperature, blood pressure, and metabolism.
For those with anxiety, this is when their feelings can become more intense, leading to wakefulness.
