Why the Middle of the Night Feels So Tempting
Every now and then, I find myself wide awake at 2 a.m.—not because I’m weighed down with grief or worry, but because life happens. Travel throws off my rhythm, my mind won’t settle, or I simply can’t coax myself back to sleep. I know I’m not alone.
Whether your reason for insufficient sleep is body aches & pain, medical anxiety (colonoscopies, anyone?), current events, or even a thunderstorm outside. We can find ourselves awake, staring at the ceiling, or shuffling around in our pajamas in a dark house.
Studies show that one in three adults struggles with insomnia at some point (Cleveland Clinic), and people over 45 are especially likely to experience disrupted sleep (Sleep Foundation). And get this! Kentucky is the 3rd worst for insufficient sleep, I just learned that (Sleep Foundation)!
And here’s a fun tidbit: studies have shown that willpower depletes from a number of factors, including how you live your life during the day (American Psychological Association). This might explain why solar lights show up on my doorstep after a restless night!
My Own Late-Night Finds
In my case, the middle-of-the-night cart has also recently included:
A blue sweatshirt for my sister’s birthday
A pirate bandana for me to wear at my grandson’s birthday party
Walkie-talkies (because who doesn’t need a little adventure at Nana’s?)
Strainers for my someday kefir project
And a very bright green sweater that gives me so much joy when I wear it (although it did not look that bright when I ordered it)
Nothing too outrageous—but each item felt like a tiny spark of fun sent from the sleepless hours.
When a Book Became the Best Buy
Among those impulse items, one stood out as a real gem: a book called God Does His Best Work with Empty by Nancy Guthrie. I originally grabbed it to get ahead for a book club, but it quickly became one of those reads you underline, dog-ear, and immediately order for a friend or two.
The timing felt perfect. I resonated with the book’s contents because, regardless of whether emptiness comes from sending kids off to college, retiring from a beloved job, or grieving the loss of someone we love, the emptiness that Guthrie writes about is something we all eventually face. She reminds us that emptiness isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity for God to pour in His presence, His joy, and His provision.
A Little Motivation for Sleepless Nights
And if you’re walking through a season of grief or transition, my own book Finding the Meaning of Grief was written to be a companion in just those moments. Pair it with a cozy sweatshirt, and you’ve got the makings of a late-night treasure hunt for the heart. Since each day of Finding the Meaning of Grief contains journal prompts and creative exercises, here are a few to get you started, along with insomnia tips to get you back to sleep.
10 Gentle Tips (with Journal Prompts) for Getting Back to Sleep
Dim the Lights (Even Your Phone’s Brightness): Bright light tells your brain it’s time to wake up. One thing I’m going to try next is dimming my phone (via the settings & brightness). If I have put the lights on, I’ll try keeping a softer lamp nearby for reading, refraining from any overhead lights.
✏️ Journal Prompt: Write about how it feels to sit in your favorite kind of light: moonlight, sunshine, sunset, sunrise, candlelight, bonfire, etc.
Boring Stories on YouTube or Podcasts: Pick your favorite media platform, I use YouTube for this, and search “boring stories for sleep.” So many options come up! Listen to someone lull you to sleep while some takes 30 minutes to tell you about getting seated for some stranger’s wedding or hear all about astrophysics. :-)
✏️ Journal Prompt: What’s the most boring thing that happened to you today? Take up as much paper as you can with as many details as you can include.
Mind-Dump Your Worries: Keep a notepad by your bed. If your thoughts start racing or you keep remembering things you don’t want to forget, write them down so you can release them until morning. This one works like a charm for me!
✏️ Journal Prompt: What’s weighing on my mind tonight that I can set aside until tomorrow?
Use Gentle Movement: Stretching or gentle movement can help release tension. Even rolling your shoulders or resting in a favorite pose can bring the body back to calm. If yoga’s your thing or you want to try it out while in bed, here’s an example of a 10-minute bedtime yoga practice I found from searching #bedtimeyoga on YouTube.
✏️ Journal Prompt: What aspects of your life are moving or stretching at the moment?
Lean Into a Relaxing Ritual: Listening to soft music, repeating a prayer, or recalling a comforting memory can create a sense of safety that lulls you back to sleep. Here’s a playlist for Sleep Piano from Pandora or Apple Music or Spotify.
✏️ Journal Prompt: Press play on one of the playlists above, put your pen to paper, and watch what appears… Write until you feel sleepy.
If all else fails, I accept it instead of fighting it.
The harder you try to sleep, the harder it can be. Instead, remind yourself that rest—even while awake—still benefits the body and mind.
So if you find yourself awake in the small hours, don’t be discouraged. Maybe your shopping cart ends up with something silly, or maybe you discover a book that speaks to your soul. Or maybe you get a good journaling session in. Either way, the night doesn’t have to feel wasted.