Dr Jean-Marc Sène has shared medical advice on TF1info to help people struggling with middle-of-the-night insomnia. Speaking during a four-minute segment on the French morning television broadcast Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1 on September 11, 2026, the physician addressed common nighttime sleep disruptions, including the experience of waking up at three in the morning and finding it hard to return to sleep.
Sène said that the central problem for people experiencing nocturnal awakenings is not the event of waking up itself, but rather the challenge of falling back asleep once awake. To help viewers overcome nighttime restlessness, he highlighted a range of practical techniques and everyday objects, including smartwatches, paper books and essential oils.
During the television feature, Sène outlined how modern tools and traditional habits can be combined to manage sleep hygiene. Smartwatches and connected health devices allow users to track their nightly sleep cycles, helping to identify periods of light sleep and frequent waking. Meanwhile, opting for a printed paper book rather than a smartphone or tablet provides a calm activity that avoids screen light before attempting to drift off again.
Managing nighttime awakenings
Waking up in the middle of the night, particularly around three in the morning, is a widespread symptom of insomnia often triggered by stress, shifts in body temperature or natural changes in sleep architecture. Medical guidelines generally recommend that individuals who cannot fall back asleep after twenty minutes leave their bed or engage in a quiet, low-lit activity. Exposure to electronic screens is discouraged because blue light suppresses melatonin, the natural hormone that signals to the brain that it is time to sleep. Essential oils, such as lavender, are widely used in aromatherapy for their mild sedative effects on the nervous system.
Health guidance on French television
The advice segment was produced by the video editorial team at TF1info and aired as part of Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1. TF1 is France's leading free-to-air commercial network, and its flagship morning news program features regular expert contributions on physical health, wellness and everyday medicine. Dr Jean-Marc Sène regularly contributes medical guidance to French television broadcasts, breaking down complex health topics for morning audiences.
The feature is part of an ongoing series of health and lifestyle reports broadcast on the morning show, offering practical guidance on routine medical questions and physical well-being.
