Lemondrop

If you're anything like me, then most nights have you feeling like the "Princess and the Pea," minus the prince -- anxious and uncomfortable as you try unsuccessfully to fall asleep.

We at Lemondrop hope to finally kick the insomnia in 2010, so we've enlisted the advice of Dr. Michael Breus, sleep expert and author of "Beauty Sleep," to help.

1. Take a hot bath. "One of the easiest ways to help sleep is a hot bath about 3 hours before bed," says Breus. "The heat will increase your core body temperature, and when it begins to drop back down, it is a signal to release Melatonin to start the sleep process."

2. Curb the caffeine. That mid-afternoon pick-me-up could be preventing you from falling asleep. As Breus explains, "Many people do not know that caffeine can stay in your system for as long at 12 hours, which could be very disruptive. I ask my patients to "fade" their intake across the day, meaning that they have their strongest beverage in the mornings, and then switch to lower caffeinated alternatives by mid-day. And then hopefully decaf by 2:30 p.m."

3. Keep a sleep diary. According to Breus, "One of the first things I ask these women to do is to keep a sleep diary, where they will record what time they get in bed, fall asleep, wake up, number of caffeinated beverages, etc. Since we often do not realize what is going on, because we are asleep. From these data I can then make recommendations. But this info is great to also bring to your doctor."

4. Hit the gym. "There is data to suggest that those who exercise on a regular basis sleep better -- and actually have more deep sleep -- but we cannot yet say that exercise causes this, only that a relationship exists," he says. "We do know that exercise helps reduce depression, which can rob people of sleep, and that exercise can reduce anxiety (which can cause insomnia)." He adds that while some people get energized from their workouts, others feel more relaxed afterward, so the timing depends on the person. If you're the type who feels relaxed and refreshed post-workout, then hitting the gym before you hit the pillow might do the trick. If exercise gets you excited, then a morning workout would probably work better.

Tell us! Do you have trouble sleeping? What tips or tricks have (or haven't) worked for you?