If you fall asleep easily but wake up in the middle of the night—alert, restless, or unable to settle again—you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is assuming you simply need more discipline around bedtime.

If you feel exhausted all day but wired at night, hormones are likely at the center of the problem. Sleep isn’t just about how tired you are—it’s about whether your hormones are sending the right signals at the right time. When they’re not, rest becomes elusive.