I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I understand the relation between mania/depression and sleep disturbances, but my insomnia issues appear to persist even in between episodes. I've heard many more people mention this. Can anyone shed some more light on why bipolar seems to cause sleep issues even outside episodes, and what are some of the best ways to improve sleep (without sleep meds)? Why can't I sleep like a normal person when I'm not having an episode?

For what it's worth, I'm already keeping a steady sleep schedule, not drinking caffeine, avoiding screen time in the evenings, and using my bed only for sleep. I still wake up after a few hours and have trouble getting back to sleep. My next plan is to try running every morning, even though I hate running, because I hear the early daylight + exercise is good for your circadian rhythm. I'm open to any other advice.