Waking around the same time (e.g., 3 a.m.) is common and not automatically a bad sign. Sleep becomes lighter toward morning, so stress, room temperature/noise, bladder fullness, reflux, alcohol, or late caffeine can trigger awakenings. Early-morning awakening can also occur with anxiety/depression. In obstructive sleep apnea, breathing events can cause repeated awakenings that may appear time-linked. The key question is whether you can fall back asleep. If you return to sleep within ~15–20 minutes, it is often benign. If it repeatedly reduces total sleep and impairs daytime function, intervene: reduce alcohol, avoid heavy late meals, cool the bedroom, minimize light exposure, manage stress, and keep a consistent wake time. Avoid checking your phone during awakenings—this fuels sleep anxiety. If persistent, CBT-I is effective for recurrent night-awakening patterns. Evidence base: insomnia management principles and CBT-I evidence; sleep architecture concepts.