I love sleeping and always suffer without a good night's sleep, especially with kids(!), so I found it really interesting to read some of the more unexpected habits that cause a bad night's sleep.

Exercise: you may think it'll help to tire you out, but exercising within the four hours before you want to sleep can make falling asleep more difficult.

Booze: you might think a nightcap will help you nod off, but it is most likely to set you up for a dodgy night's sleep.

Milky drinks: a hot chocolate or Horlicks won't actually promote sleep, but can actually disrupt your sleeping patterns.

Early nights and lie-ins: if you have trouble sleeping, lying in bed restless and awake can make it worse. You're much better off getting up and trying again later. Restrict your sleep to shorter bursts if you have to, then lengthen your sleep time as you need it.

Photo: mindamediaphotography (Flickr)