The Weird Thing You Should Try Before Bed to Fall Asleep

When strangers ask me about my hobbies, I always ask, "Does sleep count?" They usually laugh, because they think I'm kidding. I'm not. I love to sleep.

Maybe I'm obsessed with sleeping because I'm actually a really light sleeper, which means I need more of it than the average adult (hello, naps). That's what I tell myself, anyway. Seriously, though — I have to turn on a sound machine AND a fan just so I don't wake up from the noisy traffic beneath my apartment window. Even distant sounds, like someone flushing the toilet or talking in the building hallway, are sure to rouse me. I guess I'm constantly on high alert or something.

So when I heard that tart cherry juice (YES, cherry juice) increases sleep due to its richness in melatonin and tryptophan, I knew I had to give it a shot. I decided to test a bottle from Biotta, a brand my mom used to buy when I was growing up. Dear readers, I kind of adored it.

First of all: it tasted so, so good. If you're a cherry-muncher who happily guzzles plain fruit juice (no sugars or additives or any of that stuff), you'll probably love this drink. As the name suggests, it's slightly sour.

About a half hour after taking a few hearty swigs for the first time, I noticed I felt . . . relaxed. Maybe not SLEEPY, but certainly more at ease. A couple hours later, I was more than ready to hit the hay. In summary? It's the perfect postwork drink for those days when you're skipping happy hour and plan to catch shut-eye early.

Even if your eyelids don't slam shut after gulping down tart cherry juice, it's loaded with other healthy benefits your body will thank you for. This juice reduces inflammation, it's chock-full of vitamin C, and it even fights grout. Whether you struggle with sleep issues or you just want to stock your fridge with something new, this product is to your advantage.

And if you're not a big juice drinker, try this gummy from Vitafusion (it tastes delicious!). Happy resting!