Do you have trouble sleeping? Having just returned from an annual meeting and convention where 6:30 am staff meetings started days that kept me on the move til nearly 10 pm, I survived this past week on about 5 hours of sleep a night. That isn't nearly enough, say experts from the CDC, and in fact half of all Americans don't get enough sleep each night. We're sleepy on our jobs, we're sleepy while we drive and we're not fully engaged at home.

My brain felt fried, my ability to think was impaired and I craved carbs and chocolate! How grateful my body was to finally return home, to a familiar bed and a familiar routine and to start catching up on the Zzzz's. I started with some of the best sleep advice out there; hopefully, these tips will help you too:

Exercise every day, preferrably earlier in the day but at least 3 hours before bedtime, and take an evening walk after dinner.

Keep a routine, like crawling under the covers around the same time, reading or relaxing in the tub.

Avoid bright lights like from your iPad or TV, which can keep you awake.

Use the sleep timer on your clock radio to play soft, relaxing music; give yourself 90 minutes worth to doze off during playtime.

Drink herbal tea or a warm caffeine-free drink before bedtime.

Keep your bedroom dark and cool to get the most sleep -- preferrably 7 or more hours a night.

If you find you can't doze off, get out of bed and into another room, keeping lights low. Read or do another quiet activity until you feel drowsy, and then go back to your pillows and try again. What helps you get the sleep you crave?