Eli5: Why cant we just signal to our brain when we want to fall asleep?

Question

When we lay down at night why our brain does not recognize it and make us fall asleep much easier? Interesting that we have control over so much things but not our own body.

In: 93

Answer 1

Me, in hour three of “Maybe if I just read a little, I’ll get tired enough to fall back asleep,” nodding enthusiastically