Why Can't I Sleep? The Most Common Reasons and Where to Start
Can't sleep? Most sleeplessness comes down to a busy mind, daily habits, your bedroom, a drifting body clock or a health issue. Find yours and where to start.
Sleep Questions
Short, direct answers to the questions people ask most about sleep, with links to deeper guides where you want more. If a sleep problem is persistent or affecting your health, we also explain when it is worth talking to a GP.
10 guides
Start here
Why Am I Tired but Can't Sleep?
Tired but can't sleep? Tired and sleepy are different states. Why your body can be exhausted while your brain stays switched on, and what helps tonight.
How Much Sleep Do Adults Need?
Most adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, with real individual variation. How to tell whether you are getting enough, and why regularity matters.
When to See a GP About Sleep Problems
When to see a GP about sleep problems: the signs that mean it is time, what a UK GP is likely to suggest, how to prepare, and where to get urgent help.
In-depth guides
Can You Catch Up on Sleep? What Sleep Debt Really Means
Can you catch up on sleep? Partly. A long night restores alertness, but you don't recover hour for hour, and weekend lie-ins have a cost. How to recover well.
Quick reads and specific questions
Does a Sleep Mask Actually Help You Sleep?
Does a sleep mask help you sleep? Yes, if light is part of your problem. What the evidence says, who benefits most, the downsides and how to choose one.
Does Reading Before Bed Help You Sleep?
Does reading before bed help you sleep? For most people, yes: it occupies the mind without exciting it. Paper or screen, what to read, and where to read it.
Is It Bad to Sleep With the Light On?
Is it bad to sleep with the light on? For most people, yes: even dim light makes sleep lighter and may affect health. The practical middle ground, explained.
Is It OK to Sleep With Earplugs Every Night?
Sleeping with earplugs every night is generally fine with sensible habits around earwax, hygiene and hearing alarms. What can go wrong and how to use them well.
Why Do I Get a Second Wind at Night?
A second wind at night is your body clock's evening alertness signal, which peaks in the hours before your natural bedtime. Why it happens and what helps.