Why Going to Bed “On Time” Might Be Why You’re Not Sleeping: Hanna’s Story and a New Approach to Rest

Are you struggling to fall asleep even when you do everything “right”? Meet Hanna, a vibrant 63-year-old woman from Arizona whose story might change how you think about bedtime forever.

Meet Hanna: A Life Full of Energy and Routine

She swims daily in her backyard pool. On cooler mornings, she walks with her husband through quiet desert streets. She hikes once a week, volunteers twice, and travels often to see her kids across the globe.

Hanna is upbeat, full of life, and always busy with creative projects and clubs. Exercise energizes her, even when she’s exhausted.

Her evenings look perfect for sleep — calm, screen-free, knitting on the porch with her husband beside her.

But when bedtime comes, something unexpected happens.

The Struggle: Wide Awake at “Bedtime”

• Around 10:00 PM, her husband falls asleep within minutes.

• Hanna follows her calming routine — a warm shower, a cup of tea, some reading — then turns off the lights.

• And just like that, her body feels wide awake.

• Not anxious. Not overwhelmed. Just alert, as if the day is starting again.

She lies still, shifts, tries to relax. Her back aches. Minutes tick by. She checks the clock, feeling a quiet heaviness — not in her eyes, but deep in her heart.

She wants to sleep. She’s doing everything right. And night after night, sleep doesn’t come.

Why Going to Bed “On Time” Isn’t Always the Answer

This idea of a “set bedtime” is something most of us carry deep inside — almost like an unspoken rule written into our bones.

From childhood, we learned: “Go to bed at X o’clock, no excuses.”

As teens, many of us rebelled, but the idea stuck. Now as adults, we try to reclaim control with set bedtimes and alarms.

But here’s the truth:

Going to bed when you’re not actually tired sets you up to lie awake, frustrated.

It’s not stubbornness — it’s decades of conditioning telling you to obey the clock instead of your body.

The secret?

• Don’t go to bed unless you’re truly tired.

• Ignore the clock. Trust your body’s natural signals.

• When you get in bed, you’ll fall asleep faster and more peacefully because you’re no longer forcing it.

Changing this deeply ingrained habit can feel strange — even scary — but it might just be the most freeing thing you do for your sleep.

Hanna’s Mindset Shift: Staying Up Until Tired

This idea felt foreign to Hanna at first.

“But I’m not sleeping enough already — and you want me to stay up later?” she asked.

The answer was yes.

• Just like eating, we don’t eat lunch just because it’s noon — we eat when hungry.

• Your body will get tired on its own schedule.

This shift took time for Hanna to accept. A personalized recording I made helped her relax rigid expectations and trust her body’s rhythm.

By allowing herself to stay up when not tired, she felt lighter, less pressured, and closer to restful sleep.

When Sleep Struggles Run Deeper: Why We Considered Hormone Testing for Hanna

For many people, changing bedtime habits and trusting their body's signals can make a big difference. But sometimes, even with healthy routines and a calm mind, sleep problems continue.

That’s when it can be helpful to explore whether an underlying issue, like a hormonal imbalance, might be contributing to the problem.

In Hanna’s case:

• Despite her healthy lifestyle, consistent routines, and positive mindset, she hadn’t slept well for years.

• She was a perfect candidate for testing because her sleep difficulties didn’t respond to common strategies.

• We decided to run tests to check her sleep-related hormones — including melatonin and cortisol — to get a clearer picture of what might be affecting her rest.

Testing isn’t about labeling or worrying — it’s simply a way to understand her body better and tailor the best possible solutions.

I’ll be sharing the results of Hanna’s tests, what they revealed, and how we moved forward in a future post — so stay tuned!

Final Thoughts: Welcome Sleep, Don’t Force It

Sleep isn’t something to force; it’s something to welcome. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is stop fighting yourself.

If falling asleep feels impossible, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean you’re broken.

Gentle shifts in how you relate to rest can be the first step toward peaceful nights.

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I’ll share the story of little Brenda — a young girl whose fixed bedtime was actually holding her back from better sleep. You won’t want to miss the surprising lessons we learned together!