Do you fall asleep just fine, only to wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. with your mind racing—and no matter how hard you try, you can't fall back asleep?

If you're a woman over 40, you're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone.

In this first episode of The Sleep Coach, we're uncovering the science behind one of the most common sleep struggles women experience during perimenopause and menopause. You'll learn why those middle-of-the-night wake-ups happen and what's actually going on in your brain, hormones, nervous system, and stress response.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why waking up at 3 a.m. is so common during midlife
• How cortisol and your body's stress response can interrupt your sleep
• The role hormones like estrogen and progesterone play in staying asleep
• Why your nervous system may be keeping your brain on high alert
• Common mistakes that can make it harder to fall back asleep
• Simple strategies to help your body feel safe enough to rest again

Understanding why you're waking up is the first step toward changing the pattern. Instead of blaming yourself or reaching for another quick fix, you'll begin to understand what your body is trying to communicate—and how to support it naturally.

If this episode helps you, be sure to follow The Sleep Coach so you never miss an episode. Better sleep starts with understanding your body.

Welcome to The Sleep Coach!

If you've ever found yourself lying awake at 2 or 3 a.m., exhausted but unable to fall back asleep, you're not alone.

In this trailer, you'll meet your host, Health/Life Coach and Behavior Change Specialist, Shelley Simpson, and get a glimpse of what you can expect from The Sleep Coach—a podcast created for women over 40 who are ready to understand why sleep becomes more difficult during midlife and what they can do about it.

Each week, you'll learn how hormones, the nervous system, stress, and everyday habits can affect your sleep. You'll also discover practical, evidence-based strategies to help you quiet a racing mind, support your body's natural sleep processes, and wake up feeling more rested.

Whether you're dealing with insomnia, waking up at 3 a.m., racing thoughts, or simply wondering why your sleep has changed after 40, this podcast is here to help you stop guessing and start understanding what's happening in your body.

Thank you for listening to the trailer. Be sure to hit Follow so you don't miss the first episode, and let's get you sleeping again.