Can't sleep? The struggle is so real when you're not getting enough solid, restful sleep at night.

During the night when we sleep, the body metabolizes everything. From the foods we eat, to the emotions we feel and the images we take in, all are processed while we sleep. Additionally, when you don't get enough sleep, your immune system is weakened. Lack of sleep also is a huge contributor to high blood pressure as well as mental health issues. An afterthought this shouldn't be.

Here are some tips and tricks that can help you catch your ZZZZs:

Create a soft nighttime ritual

When my kids were little, we had a peaceful evening routine. After dinner was some mellow playtime followed by a nice bath. Once the bubbles all disappeared, I'd put the kiddos into their jammies, lay down in bed with them, and read their favorite books. More often than not, they'd fall asleep before I finished reading.

To boost your overall health, find ways to create your own sleepy routine to help remind your body that it's time to snooze. Be sure to stop any and all screen time at least an hour before you're ready to turn the lights out so that your circadian rhythm doesn't get all messed up.

Quit drinking sooner

It's such a bummer to be all snuggly in bed, only to have your bladder forcefully wake you up. One way this might be remedied is to discontinue your fluid intake for at least an hour before you're headed to bed. And if you're drinking booze at night, that's a diuretic (meaning it causes you to pee more frequently), so limit the amount you consume as well.

Go to sleep earlier

Ever notice how you'll start to fade at night, and then if you continue to stay awake you'll get a second wind? That's less than ideal when you're trying to improve your sleep hygiene. If possible, start your unwinding nighttime routine around 9p so that you can turn out the lights at 10p.

The vast majority of people live in a state of chronic sleep deprivation without even knowing it. Many think of sleep as an afterthought, an inconvenient waste of time. That couldn't be further from the truth.

You can work small miracles in your body when you make sleep a more sacred act.