As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I’ve seen that getting up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet is a common habit that can make it hard to sleep and hurt our general health. This habit may not seem harmful, but it can hurt our bodies in ways we don’t mean.
When a patient tells me they have to get up several times to go to the toilet, I tell them about bladder irritants, drinking water before bed and resetting their bladder. Another important reason to avoid going to the toilet at midnight is that it can mess up our REM (rapid eye movement) sleep routine.
We need REM sleep to feel good, remember things, and learn new things. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by our bodies during this time, which is full of amazing changes. ADH helps our bodies keep their fluid levels by reducing the amount of water we lose through pee.
This delicate balance is upset when we have to get up to go to the toilet, which could affect our sleep quality and health in general. We can get the most out of REM sleep and its effects if we don’t go to the toilet at midnight.
So, how can we cut down on waking up at night? Start by avoiding things that irritate your bladder, drinking water before bed, and making new habits that will help your bladder learn new ways to work. By making these changes, you can get a better night’s sleep and feel more rested and energised when you wake up.
Remember that getting enough sleep is important for both our mental and physical health. We can get the most out of our REM cycle and feel ready to take on the day when we wake up by making unbroken sleep a priority and avoiding trips to the toilet at midnight.
We can improve our general quality of life and enjoy the benefits of restful sleep by making changes to the way we sleep and waking up less at night. Try to hold it the next time you have to go to the toilet. Your body will thank you in the morning.
