Doctor reveals the one thing you absolutely should not do if you wake up in the middle of the night

A sleep expert has revealed the one thing you absolutely should not do if you wake up in the middle of the night.

It's not exactly uncommon to toss and turn during the middle of the night, though there is one thing you don't want to do if you're a light sleeper.

While many of us will likely just head straight back to sleep when waking up, it's not so easy for a lot of folks.

And a doctor has warned against doing one thing if you are likely to spend a bit of time awake through a bit of interrupted sleep.

A doctor has revealed the the one thing you absolutely should not do if you wake up in the middle of the night (Getty Stock Photo)

Dr Biquan Luo, CEO of LumosTech, told New York Post: "Checking the time can increase stress and make it harder to sleep. Additionally, if you check the time on your phone, the contents of the phone may be too stimulating, which further prevents you from relaxing and falling asleep."

It may be a temptation to head straight for your phone if you're struggling to sleep. I mean, what's better than scrolling through TikTok for a few hours to make the time go by?

However, the sleep expert has warned against scrolling through the social channels in the middle of the night.

Dr Luo continued: "If you can't fall back asleep after 10 or 15 minutes, it's time to get out of bed. Try going to a quiet and comfortable place at home, like the couch, and engage in a quiet, low-stimulation activity, such as reading a book or doing a calming activity, until you feel sleepy again - then return to bed."

Another expert, Dr. Fiona Barwick, director of the Sleep & Circadian Health Program at Stanford University School of Medicine, previously said that instead of lying in bed thinking about the fact you can't get back to sleep, there's a much better alternative.

Don't check the time if you're struggling to sleep! (Getty Stock Photo)

She told Self: “Thinking about the fact that you’re not sleeping can rouse your mind and make you more anxious. A better move is to accept your situation – don’t resist being awake – and find an alternative focus.”

A fellow expert claimed that if you can't get back to sleep, 'it's important not to stay in bed'.

Luis F. Buenaver explained to John Hopkins Medicine: “Doing this will lead your brain and body to associate your bed with wakefulness instead of with sleep.

"It can be difficult leaving a warm, comfortable bed after waking up in the middle of the night. But think of this step as an investment in better sleep – if not tonight then tomorrow night and in the future.

“Sit in a comfortable chair in another room.