It turns out there's even a scientific name for this phenomenon - "the hour of the wolf." Many people experience nighttime awakenings and don't understand what's causing it. Now scientists have explained why this happens and what to do about it.
It could be related to several factors. First, your body works in sleep cycles that last roughly 90 minutes each, and if something bothers you at the end of a cycle - a sound, temperature change, uncomfortable position - you'll wake up right at that time. Second, if you're waking up at the same time repeatedly, it often means your body has gotten used to waking up then - for example, because of a consistent alarm for work or a habit of getting up to use the bathroom at night.
It's also often connected to your cortisol cycle, the stress hormone that rises during the second half of the night before you wake up. Plus, if you're stressed or anxious, that can amplify the effect - your body starts anticipating that moment. What helps here is normalizing your routine: consistent bedtime and wake time, no screens for an hour or two before bed, a cool room.
Try also checking if something in your room is bothering you - neighbor noise, streetlight coming through, too hot or too cold. Sometimes just improving your sleep conditions is enough and the problem goes away on its own. If you're waking up regularly and it's worrying you, it makes sense to see a sleep specialist - sometimes there's something more serious behind it.
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