You are heavy-eyed, slow-moving, done with the day — but the second your head hits the pillow, your body flips a switch. Heartbeat up, thoughts flickering, legs restless. You are not energized; you are exhausted. Your nervous system just never got the memo that the day is over. That is the tired-but-wired trap, and it is one of the most common reasons people lie awake at 2 a.m.
The good news: you can downshift it in about five minutes. Not by trying harder to sleep, but by sending your body a clear, physical signal that it is safe to switch off.
If the wired feeling comes from a mind that will not stop rehearsing tomorrow or replaying today, see our guide on how to fall asleep fast when overthinking.