Past midnight and can't sleep. Woke up in the middle of the night. Just not feeling sleepy for no particular reason โ how do you spend that time?
How you spend a late night really depends on whether you want to get back to sleep or whether you've decided to just stay up. This article covers both situations.
If You Want to Get Back to Sleep
The key is to reduce screen brightness and stimulation so your body and mind can settle down.
Put On Some Music or the Radio
Play something with a slow tempo, or tune into a radio station and just lie there. Sometimes just having someone's voice in the background is enough to calm you down. And since you're not looking at a screen, there's less strain on your eyes.
Journal or Sort Through Your Thoughts
Write out whatever's been going around in your head. It doesn't have to be about "why you can't sleep" โ just writing down what happened today or how you've been feeling can quiet your mind down.
Read a Physical Book
A paper book is less likely to interfere with sleep than a phone or tablet. Essays and short story collections work well because it's easy to stop partway through.
Things to Do When You've Decided to Stay Up
If you've given up on sleeping and just want to pass the time quietly, here are some good options.
Read a Book (Really Get Into It)
Late-night reading can actually be more focused than daytime reading. The quiet environment with no interruptions makes it easy to sink into a book.
Any genre works, but mysteries, sci-fi, and essays are especially good for late nights. Short story collections and essay books are more "late-night friendly" than long novels because you can stop whenever.
Watch a Movie or Show by Yourself
There's a different kind of immersion to watching a movie alone at night. Turn the lights down low, put in your earphones, and the world of the film becomes that much more vivid.
Good late-night genres: suspense, sci-fi, human drama. The trick is to decide "just one" before you start so you don't end up watching until morning.
Play a Video Game
Gaming at night has an extra level of immersion. Single-player RPGs and adventure games in particular โ the kind where you really sink into the story โ are perfect for late nights.
Use earphones if the game has sound. And be mindful of the people around you.
Journal or Sort Through Your Thoughts
Late nights tend to be a time when thoughts go deep. Today's events, things you've been thinking about lately, the future โ when you write it all out, it often flows more easily than you'd expect.
Getting it out of your head can actually help you sleep afterward.
Really Listen to Your Favorite Music
Music sounds different at night. Details you wouldn't normally notice come through, lyrics hit differently.
Focusing on nothing but music through your earphones is a quiet luxury that's uniquely possible at this hour.
Things You Can Only Do at Night
Look at the Stars
On a clear night, step outside and look up. Smartphone apps like Star Walk and Stellarium can help you identify constellations.
It's harder in cities, but even moving to a slightly darker spot makes a real difference in what you can see.
Take a Night Walk
The city looks completely different after midnight. It's quiet, there are fewer people, and the lights have an almost dreamlike quality.
If you go for a night walk, stick to well-lit streets with some foot traffic, and keep it short. If you're not feeling up to going out, just stepping onto the balcony or opening a window to hear the sounds of the night is enough.
Listen to Late-Night Radio
Late-night radio hosts tend to get more candid and personal than daytime broadcasts. You can listen for free on apps like Radiko.
Just having someone's voice in your ears can be oddly calming.
Things to Watch Out for at Night
The main thing to be careful about with late-night activities is not wrecking your sleep schedule too badly.
- Phone and PC blue light keeps your brain awake โ avoid prolonged use or switch to night mode
- Avoid caffeine for 4โ6 hours before you want to sleep
- Don't stress about not being able to sleep โ the more you worry, the harder it gets
On nights you can't sleep, it's easier on yourself to accept it as "quiet time" rather than desperately trying to force sleep.
The late night is also "time that's just for you" โ something you can't really have during the day. Enjoy the quiet at your own pace.