Sleepless Nights

Jenny McCarthy
Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

I know I'm not the only one who has suffered from annoying nights of exhaustion when, no matter what you do, you just can't fall asleep. You feel so tired, yet your body doesn't want to agree with you. I even created a game night on Twitter, with the hashtag "Jensomnia," so fellow insomniacs can stay up and entertain one another. Though there's no guaranteed way to make yourself fall asleep, here are some helpful tips for reducing the late-night frustration:

—Pay attention to what you eat and drink throughout the day. Limit caffeine and sugars, but load up on things such as bananas, almonds and milk; they contain tryptophan, which helps regulate sleep. Also, don't go to bed hungry. The last thing you need while you're trying to sleep is the annoying grumbling in your stomach.

—Exercise in the morning instead of in the evening. Exercise not only wakes you up but also helps you burn calories throughout the day — so it's a win-win!
Updated: Tue Feb 17, 2015

I know I'm not the only one who has suffered from annoying nights of exhaustion when, no matter what you do, you just can't fall asleep. You feel so tired, yet your body doesn't want to agree with you. I even created a game night on Twitter, with the hashtag "Jensomnia," so fellow insomniacs can stay up and entertain one another. Though there's no guaranteed way to make yourself fall asleep, here are some helpful tips for reducing the late-night frustration:

—Pay attention to what you eat and drink throughout the day. Limit caffeine and sugars, but load up on things such as bananas, almonds and milk; they contain tryptophan, which helps regulate sleep. Also, don't go to bed hungry. The last thing you need while you're trying to sleep is the annoying grumbling in your stomach.

—Exercise in the morning instead of in the evening. Exercise not only wakes you up but also helps you burn calories throughout the day — so it's a win-win!

—The No. 1 thing we all do when we're trying to fall asleep is overthink anything and everything. Try to reduce stress levels before bed to put your mind at ease. To help wind down for the night, you can take a warm bath, use aromatherapy, meditate or even do yoga.

—Establish a bedtime routine, and stick to it. For example, if you take a bath, read or drink hot tea before bed every night, your body is likelier to get into a habit, making it easier for you to fall asleep.

Those are just a few ideas to try, but when all else fails, hop on Twitter and keep me company @JennyMcCarthy. We can complain about our insomnia together!

What are some things that have helped you fall asleep at night?