Get to Bed Quick With This Bedtime Beauty Hack

What is the Sleepy Girl Mocktail?

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is a tart cherry juice mocktail that originates from TikTok. Holistic health influencers and athletes have been praising the concoction for its benefits in aiding restful sleep and healthy digestion.

“The wellness world is obsessing over finding ways to get better and more regular sleep,” says Lainie from @lainiecooks on TikTok. “I think this trend will start moving into daily habits you can change for optimal sleep, and what foods you can eat that contain natural melatonin or high levels of magnesium to help you unwind, relax, and lower cortisol levels."

Why is the Sleepy Girl Mocktail good for sleep?

The traditional recipe for the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is tart cherry juice, magnesium glycinate powder, and Olipop (or any sparkling drink – but I personally love Olipop for its gut health benefits). The drink promotes the body’s melatonin production to support sleep, says Dr. Renee Korczak, Ph.D., RDN, CSSD, LD.

“Tart cherries, which as most people don’t know, are filled with a lot of nutrients, like antioxidants, anthocyanins, and notably for this use case, melatonin,” says Dr. Korczak. “Melatonin strongly affects the human sleep-wake cycle to help support sleep.”

When combined with magnesium glycinate, the drink’s effects are, well, more effective for sleep.

“Magnesium is a mineral with several functions, as it assists with hundreds of enzymatic bodily reactions like energy production, protein synthesis, muscle contractions, and more,” says Dr. Korczak. “In terms of sleep, magnesium can help regulate certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers that relay messages between nerve cells in your brain.”

Before taking a sip, it’s important to evaluate your needs for supplemental magnesium. It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about any intake concerns, especially since magnesium can impact other medications you may be taking. Further, you can get in magnesium organically by snacking on fruits, nuts, chia seeds, and even dark chocolate!

How can I get better sleep?

According to Dr. Korczak, insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are common issues amongst many Americans. She shared a few tips to consider before reaching for that tart cherry juice to make the mocktail:

1. Establish a regular bedtime.
2. Create a restful environment, and limit the use of devices and TV watching before bed.
3. Don’t overeat before you go to bed. Also, don't go to bed hungry, and avoid alcohol and / or caffeine prior to bed, as these can interfere with sleep.

The Viral Sleepy Girl Mocktail Recipe

• ½ cup tart cherry juice
• 1 serving magnesium glycinate powder
• Olipop Cherry Vanilla or Ginger Lemon (or any other sparkling drink you like – I also love Aura Bora Lavender Cucumber)

1. Pour the tart cherry juice in a glass over ice.
2. Add the magnesium glycinate powder, and stir until fully dissolved.
3. Top your Sleepy Girl Mocktail off with Olipop for added digestive benefits, and sip your way to good sleep!

Did the magnesium-filled Sleepy Girl Mocktail actually help me sleep?

I am truly a Sleepy Girl by nature. I think I could fall asleep just about anywhere if I was tired enough, but figured I would try the mocktail recipe to see if it really could boost my tiredness and send me off into a peaceful night’s sleep.

Making the tart cherry mocktail was terribly easy. I slowly sipped it about an hour before bedtime, when I already felt the sleepies kicking in. The taste was super tart, thanks to the cherry juice, but it wasn’t painfully sour. I definitely plan to play around with the juice-to-Olipop ratio next time I make it!

Upon waking the next morning, I didn’t feel like my sleep was wildly transformed – but I did sleep good. I can likely attribute that to the regular sleep schedule I’ve been on for months now, so I can’t speak on the mocktail’s effects too strongly. It was delicious, though, and I could see myself sipping it whenever I’m craving a yummy nighttime drink.

I’m no expert, but I imagine this drink is super beneficial for those struggling with sleep already. If you’re having issues maintaining a regular sleep schedule, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is perfect for you!

Overall, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail earns an 8/10 for me.

Go To Bed Earlier

It sounds obvious, but going to bed earlier can have serious implications on your energy levels in the morning. I used to go to bed around 10 p.m., but due to my insomnia, it would often be 12 or 1 a.m. before I actually fell asleep, all before waking up at 6. Do the math on how many hours of sleep that is per night! (Hint: Not enough.)

In addition to implementing some good nighttime routine practices (we'll get there in a moment), I decided that due to my long window between going to bed and falling asleep, I should really be hitting the hay around 9 p.m. Even if you don't suffer from insomnia, it may be that you need more sleep than the average person. Studies have found that some people simply need more sleep than others.

Sleep In Darkness and Silence

Another thing that really helps a lot of people is tweaking your sleeping environment so you can sleep in complete darkness and silence. Blackout curtains are a must if you live on a street that stays lit into the night, and it goes without saying that small lights from phone chargers or electronics should be moved into other rooms.

Getting total silence is another story. Many of us don't have the option, but if you have a finished basement in your home, it might be worth moving your bedroom downstairs so you can sleep in an area protected from noise pollution. If not, a white noise machine can help cover up loud or sudden noises so your sleep isn't disturbed at night.

In addition to curating the perfect environment for sleep, making your ideal bedding situation as cozy as possible will really help you relax. Get ready to crawl into your most comfortable nest, hot tea in hand.

Consider Your Lifestyle And Chronotype

Considering your lifestyle as well as your body's natural preferences can be crucial for setting a healthy sleep-wake schedule. If you work out after work, for example, you may want to set a later bedtime and later wake time, because exercise can trigger energy-boosting hormones that make it harder to fall asleep for about 90 minutes after activity. Do you work early in the morning? Adjust your bedtime accordingly.

One important factor in your ideal sleep-wake schedule is your chronotype. A chronotype is essentially an MBTI type for your sleep patterns; there are four basic chronotypes, and each has a different biological preference when it comes to sleep.

• Lion: These people are early birds, and they probably aren't reading this article because they're already morning people!
• Bear: Most people fall into this category. These individuals' sleep-wake preferences are generally aligned with the sun. They wake up relatively easily in the morning (provided they have good sleep hygiene) and start to tire around 8 p.m.
• Wolf: If you absolutely loathe mornings and find yourself energetic long into the night hours, you may be a wolf chronotype. These people are classic night owls.
• Dolphin: This is my personal chronotype. Dolphins are anxious sleepers, often remaining awake long after getting into bed, and sleeping lightly throughout the night.

Wake Up With What You Need

Now let's get to the fun part: Creating your actual routine. Half of becoming a morning person is, naturally, your morning routine. Give yourself a head start by waking up with whatever you need right next to you (or at least prepped nearby). Here are some examples:

• If your plan is to work out in the morning, have your gym clothes folded on your nightstand.
• Before going to bed at night, heat some water and pour it into a Hydro Flask, along with a few drops of lemon. Place it on your nightstand... it'll still be warm when you wake, making the healthy habit of drinking a morning lemon water incredibly easy.
• Get a coffee maker with a timer so your coffee is already brewed when you wake up.
• Wintertime chills got you cuddling in bed long after you should've gotten up? Keep your robe and slippers right next to your bed so they're ready to slip on as soon as you wake.

Create A Routine You Actually Like

This tip is super simple: Don't overcomplicate your mornings! People on social media tend to have aspirational morning routine ideas, but if journaling for 20 minutes isn't your idea of a good time, don't do it. Here are some easy and enjoyable activities you might want to add to your morning routine:

• Eat a delicious breakfast (and it doesn't have to be a complex one! Nostalgic breakfast cereals are totally OK).
• Read your favorite magazine or website.
• Pull a tarot card.
• Light a scented candleor some incense.
• Listen to music.
• Have fun playing with makeup and creating your look for the day.
• Cuddle with your pet (just don't do it in bed, or you might never want to get up!).

Try Light Therapy

Another way to help yourself wake up in the morning, especially if you're really struggling, is to try light therapy. The New York Times described just how big a role light plays in our circadian rhythms. If you're trying to reprogram your own sleep-wake cycle, using a light therapy machine when you wake up can help communicate to your body that it's time to be awake. If you live in a climate where it's appropriate, natural light works too:

Stay Consistent On Weekends

Finally, don't let all the hard work you do throughout the week go to waste when the weekend comes along. The Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 schedule, while still not totally ubiquitous, is a fairly recent invention and doesn't mirror the cycles our bodies were designed for. Your body doesn't recognize Saturday as any different from Monday!

So while it can be tempting to let yourself sleep in on the weekends, keep up your new routine every day. Over time, it will grow to be so natural that you simply wake up around the same time each day, without even having to try.

Who is Sophia Bush?

Sophia Bush has had a lengthy career as an actress, and she's most recognized for her portrayal of Brooke Davis in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. She's also appeared in Nip/Tuck, Chicago Fire, Incredibles 2, and John Tucker Must Die. When she's not showing off her acting chops, she hosts the Drama Queens podcast alongside former One Tree Hill castmates Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz!

Who is Ashlyn Harris?

Ashlyn Harris is a former U.S. soccer player who had a successful run — no pun intended — as a goalkeeper during the career. She also won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and continued making an impressionable mark. However, she announced her retirementin 2022 and — per her Instagrampage — has gone on to become the Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC and Adidas Football.

When did the dating rumors about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris start?

June 2023

Rumors about a possible connection between Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris swirled last summer when Cosmopolitanreported they were on a panel at Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity. Sophia shared a pic of the two at the festival on Instagramand wrote, "Love you @ashlynharris24 and @sophieannkelly" towards the end of her caption.

A source told Page Six, "It’s very new...They are definitely a couple.” But, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris didn't confirm or deny anything at that time.

When did Sophia Bush file for divorce from Grant Hughes?

August 2023

A couple of months after Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were seen getting cozy together, Sophia filed for divorce from her former husband Grant Hughes. Peopleshared that they were only married for a little over a year — 13 months — but didn't end on a bad terms. A source then told Entertainment Tonight, "Grant and Sophia are better off as friends and they weren’t getting enough time with each other before their breakup."

When did Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger file for divorce?

October 2023

While things seemed to quiet down, Ashlyn Harris soon filed for divorce from Ali Krieger after getting married towards the end of 2019. What's interesting is that a source told Peoplethis decision wasn't surprising. "Although it’s new information to the public, Ashlyn and Ali’s divorce began months ago and they have been living apart since the summer,” the source said.

This is also around the time it was speculated Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris had their first official date. A rep told People, "Grant will always want the best for Sophia, and is supportive of all that makes her happy and fulfilled." We guess it helps he and Sophia had a solid friendship before getting married!

As for Ali Krieger, she basically let the world know things were business as usual with an Instagrampost. She captioned a pic of her playing soccer with, "Preparing for playoffs while in my Beyoncé lemonade era." A comment from user @lgbtlfg said, "the fact that a lot of players in these comment’s usually mind their business and stay out of drama but are supporting ali should tell everyone all they need to know."

The only thing Ashlyn said about it on Instagramis that she never intended for her and Ali's divorce to be made a public matter. A portion of her note says, "This process is never easy, but we were making our way through."

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris publicly talked about their relationship?

March 2024

Besides showing up to Elton John's Oscars afterparty together, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were previously tight-lipped about their relationship. The only hint Sophia offered was much more of a reflective post about 2023 on Instagramat the beginning of January. She said, "This year taught me to listen to myself and no one else. To let go of expectation that wounds and grasp possibility that frees. To not care about optics and instead invest in honesty."

But, she's since chosen to own where she is in life.

April 2024

Sophia Bush has now reached a point where she's publicly ready to stand in her truth regarding her life and her relationship status so much that she penned her own cover story for Glamour. The first thing she did was open up about how she really felt about her marriage and fertility struggles.

She wrote, "But after the wedding I found myself in the depths and heartbreak of the fertility process, which was the most clarifying experience of my life. It feels like society is finally making space for brutally honest conversations about how hard and painful any fertility journey is, but I kept mine private. I was trying to get through months of endless ultrasounds, hormone shots, so many blood draws that I have scar tissue in my veins, and retrieval after retrieval, while simultaneously realizing the person I had chosen to be my partner didn’t necessarily speak the same emotional language I did.”

As far as her relationship with Ashlyn Harris is concerned, the star is enjoying the love that exists between them. Contrary to alleged rumors, their initial relationship was a platonic one that stemmed from a place of understanding and support.

She told Glamour,“I didn’t expect to find love in this support system. I don’t know how else to say it other than: I didn’t see it until I saw it. And I think it’s very easy not to see something that’s been in front of your face for a long time when you’d never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option. What I saw was a friend with her big, happy life. And now I know she thought the same thing about me.”

She also added, "A lot of effort was made to be graceful with other people’s processing, their time and obligations, and their feelings. What felt like seconds after I started to see what was in front of me, the online rumor mill began to spit in the ugliest ways. There were blatant lies. Violent threats. There were the accusations of being a home-wrecker. The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women—my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!).”

It's safe to say that Sophia Bush is thoroughly comfortable with her love life and identity as a queer woman. She said, "I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home. I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great.”

And this is what it looks like to reclaim your narrative when so many people are looking at a brief glimpse of the lives of celebrities. We love that Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are loving each other on their terms without feeling pressured to share anything before they were ready to. Our hope is that their love story continues to unfold beautifully.

Be sure to watch Sophia Bush's interview with Glamour's Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry here!

Full Credits From Glamour Magazine:

Writer: Sophia Bush

Photographer: Lauren Dukoff

Stylist: Deborah Afshani

Hair: Matthew Collins

Makeup: Afton Williams

Manicure: Brittney Boyce

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris made their official red carpet debut?

April 27, 2024

Per Glamour, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn made their official red carpet debut as a couple on Friday. They attended the White House Correspondent's dinner where they were dressed to impress in complementing black ensembles.

It's easy to see the glowing couple couldn't stop laughing and smiling as they posed for pictures that seemed to capture every good angle of their faces and style.

After the dinner, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris posed for more pictures on the red carpet leading to the Correspondent's after-party. Now that we're able to see their full faces, we have to talk about how well their hair and makeup complements their outfits. It's clear that Ashlyn's contour and bronzer were expertly applied to her face while Sophia's blush gave her a natural flush.

*Sigh* Their smiles are the only confirmation we need that they're enjoying the bliss of being a couple.