insomnia

You go to bed exhausted with the sweet scent of sunscreen after a long day in the sun, but all you can do is toss and turn. Here are some things to try before bed to ensure a well-rested Summer's night of sleep.

• Eat at your normal time: Even though it stays lighter much later, it doesn't mean you should push dinnertime to 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime can cause digestive upset and heartburn, making you too uncomfortable to fall asleep. If hot weather makes you crave ice cream after dinner, be sure to enjoy it at least an hour or two before hitting the hay so the sugar doesn't pep you up.
• Kick back with a refreshing iced herbal tea: There's something about Summer weather that makes us want to reach for a cold beer or margarita, but drinking too much alcohol at night can cause fragmented sleep. Enjoy one alcoholic beverage to satisfy your craving, and if you still need to quench your thirst, go for seltzer with fruit slices or iced chamomile tea.
• Water before bed: Dehydration is more common in the Summer because the heat makes us lose more water. Not getting enough H2O can make you feel tired all day so ensure you're getting your fill of nature's beverage by sipping some 30 minutes or so before bed (not too close to bedtime or too much that you have to pee in the middle of the night). It can help move things along digestively as well, preventing constipation in the morning.
• Go for AC for allergy relief: Warmer weather means you can finally open the windows. The sweet sound of crickets chirping or the pelting of light Summer rain can help lull you to sleep, but if you suffer from seasonal allergies, pollen will blow right in, causing sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes to keep you up. Use a small fan on your dresser or air-conditioning to keep you cool and you'll soon love the gentle whirring white noise.

Keep reading for more tips on getting a restful night of sleep tonight.

Take a hot bubble bath, sip some chamomile tea, and do some relaxing yoga poses — these are all things you can do right before hopping into bed to help promote a restful night of sleep. There are also things you can do in the morning that can affect how you sleep that night, so try these tips.

1. Set your alarm: Getting up early and at the same time every day (even on the weekends) is essential in helping to set up your body's circadian rhythm. Rising by 7 a.m. will ensure that you're tired enough to fall asleep later.
2. Burn some calories: Exercise uses up energy, so a good sweat session can help you feel fatigued by the time the sun goes down. Morning exercisers tend to work out longer and harder than those who exercise at other times during the day, and exercising first thing in the morning makes sure it gets done.
3. Have your cup of joe: There's nothing wrong with needing to bury your head in a mug of coffee in order to get a little pep in your step — just make sure you enjoy your cup-o-caffeine in the morning. Sipping on coffee and other caffeinated beverages later in the day will stimulate your brain and can lead to restless sleep at night, so limit your coffee fix to breakfast time.

Ugh, is it 6:30 a.m. already? If you constantly wake up in the morning exhausted and feel like you're in a fog, here are eight reasons why.

1. Your room is a cave: If blackout shades prevent daylight from streaming in and slowing waking you up, your internal clock won't know day from night. Exposure to sunshine in the morning will signal your brain that it's time for your body to waken. And when you do, it'll be gradual, so you'll wake up feeling rested.
2. You skipped yesterday's workout: Exercise burns calories, but it also burns up energy. If you have too much, you'll be too restless to settle. Stick to a regular exercise routine, working out at least three or four times a week in order to reap the benefits in the bedroom.
3. Late-night Facebooking: It's difficult to disconnect from the world, but when you check your email "real quick," it's easy to get sucked in, and before you know it, an hour has gone by. Besides keeping you up late, the lights from your phone, computer, and TV stimulate you brain, so when you finally shut off the lights, it takes your mind a while to calm down enough to drift off to sleep. Make a promise to shut off all technology at least an hour before bedtime and read a book, take a bath, or do some stretches before bed instead.

Continue reading to find out other reasons why you're not waking up rested.

With so many sleep-aids out there, it's no secret that Americans have issues getting to bed. Before popping pills, here's how to deal with some of the most common mistakes people have when it comes to bedtime.

Getting Sucked Into TV and Going to Bed Late

The problem: You're super tired but you force yourself to stay up to catch all the highlights of the Summer Olympics. Watching TV, working on the computer, or playing with your iPad can make sleep harder to come by. Besides staying up later than usual, the light from the screen stimulates your brain and keeps you awake.

The solution: Set a bedtime and stick to it. A half hour before you know you need to hit the hay, do calming things such as yoga, taking a hot shower, reading a book, or writing in a journal. This will help relax the body and mind, prepping you for your regular bedtime.

Keep reading to find out what else prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.

We spend about a third of our lives in slumberland, but many people complain of not sleeping well. If you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night, try exercising during the day and limiting alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But if you are doing this already and still have troubles, here are three things to do immediately before hitting the hay to calm your body and mind and help you get the restful night of sleep you crave.

The Power of Water
Twenty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights in the bathroom, turn on some relaxing tunes on your iPhone and take a warm shower or bath. The heat soothes achy muscles, and the steam clears your sinuses, which is essential if allergy symptoms prevent you from sleeping well at night. It's also a great way to wash away germs and prevent you from getting sick, which can also make it difficult to sleep.

Bye-Bye Pains
After your 10-minute warm bath or shower, slip into your PJs and do five minutes of stretching to ease any pains that prevent you from sleeping. Lower back pain is common for many, so if yours bothers you, here's a yoga sequence to offer back pain relief. If a sore neck and shoulders are your woe, do these soothing stretches. A little self-massage can also ease muscle tension, or apply a heating pad or one of those rice pillows you warm up in the microwave to sore areas.

Get Bored
Now slip into bed, not with a riveting, can't-put-it-down book, but one that has a dull, monotonous, stale topic that's bound to have your eyelids drooping in minutes. Be sure to read from an actual book, not a laptop or iPad, as the lights cue your brain to wake up.

Do you normally get enough sleep? Many people don't; in fact, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, says that 30 percent of all workers in the United States are sleep deprived, meaning they get fewer than seven hours of quality sleep a night. That can put employees like drivers, warehouse workers, and health care providers at on-the-job risk, but even if you're just chained to your desk, chronic sleeplessness can still affect your health by increasing your risk of obesity, heart disease, and other conditions. So, how do you know you're sleep deprived? Here are eight signs you should be getting better sleep, from sleep experts and Prevention magazine.

1. You need an alarm to wake up.
2. You use the snooze button on your alarm more than twice.
3. You fall asleep in fewer than 10 minutes.
4. Simple decisions stump you.
5. You're still hungry after eating all day.
6. You keep coming down with colds.
7. Weird things make you cry.
8. You've become a klutz.

If this sounds like you during the workweek, read on for our advice on how to get a good night's sleep.

You slip under the covers, turn off the light, and rest your head on your pillow. Seems simple and perfect, but here are some things you could be doing in bed that harm your health.

• Grinding your teeth: Formally called sleep bruxism, many people unknowingly clench their jaw or grind their teeth at night, which can lead to tension headaches, earaches, irritated tissue on the inside of your cheeks, jaw pain, and permanent damage to your teeth in the form of chips and worn-down enamel that cause sensitivity or cracks. Stress can be a factor, so reducing the amount of worry in your life can help. If it doesn't, see your dentist about designing your own personal mouth guard to sleep with. Not exactly the sexiest thing to wear to bed, it's sure to offer you a more restful and less painful night of sleep.
• Sucking on a cough drop: If you suffer from a chronic cough, cold or sinus infection, or postnasal drip, sucking on a cough drop every night may be the only way you can get some sleep without coughing keeping you up. Although soothing to your throat, exposure to a bath of sugar all night long is sure to lead to tooth decay and cavities. Here are other natural remedies for your nighttime coughs. If the cough persists, it's time to see your doc.

Keep reading to find out what else you're doing at night that's wrecking your health.