What Should I Drink When Tired at Night to Feel Better?

The weird mix of tired and wired at night

You know that feeling when your body’s dead tired, but your brain’s still kinda buzzing? Yeah. That.
Happens to me way too often — especially after a long day of screen-staring and pretending to be productive until 11 PM.

Last week, I was chatting with my friend Maya (she’s a night owl slash herbal tea expert) and I asked her: “What should I even drink when I’m this tired but not really sleepy?” She laughed and said, “Not coffee, genius.” Touché.

So yeah, if you're stuck in that strange evening fatigue zone — too tired to work, too restless to sleep — here are some drinks that might help. Some I’ve tried. Some I’ve totally messed up with. Let’s get into it.

Skip the caffeine (seriously, just don't)

Why coffee is a bad idea (even decaf sometimes)

Honestly, I used to think, “Just a small cup of coffee. Just to push through.” Bad move. Every. Time.

Even decaf messes with me if I drink it after 8 PM. It’s not just the caffeine — your body still reacts, and suddenly it’s 2 AM and you’re wide awake, doomscrolling or reorganizing your socks.

Energy drinks? Hell no.

Don’t even. I had a Red Bull at 10 PM once during finals week — felt amazing for 40 minutes, then crashed like a brick wall into my pillow... but couldn't actually sleep. It was like being tired and high-key anxious at the same time. Never again.

So what should you actually drink when you’re tired?

Warm herbal teas that calm the system

My go-to lately? Chamomile tea. Sounds boring, I know, but it seriously works. It chills me out without knocking me out. Lavender tea is another solid option — Maya swears by it. Tastes a bit like perfume at first, but you get used to it.

Then there’s lemon balm tea — super underrated. I tried it on a whim and now it’s part of my wind-down ritual. Bonus: it helps with digestion too (so good after those questionable late-night snacks).

Golden milk: cozy, warm, and kinda magical

Okay so golden milk — if you’ve never heard of it — is basically warm milk with turmeric, cinnamon, and a touch of honey. I thought it sounded like hippie nonsense at first. But damn, it’s cozy. And it actually helps me relax.

I use oat milk, personally (cow’s milk is too heavy for me at night), and add a tiny bit of black pepper — not for flavor, but it helps the turmeric absorb better (science-y stuff, I know).

Hydration: the boring but important part

Sometimes you’re just... dehydrated

This sounds way too simple, but hear me out — sometimes when I feel tired and cranky at night, I’m just mildly dehydrated. A glass of water (or two) with a slice of lemon or cucumber? Total reset.

I used to reach for snacks or random sugary stuff thinking I was hungry. Turns out, I just needed water. Classic rookie mistake.

Coconut water if you want something tastier

If plain water feels too bland (been there), coconut water can be a great alternative. It gives you potassium and electrolytes without that sugar spike. Just go easy — some brands add too much sweetener.

Drinks to help sleep kick in (without feeling groggy)

Tart cherry juice (yes, really)

This one surprised me. Tart cherry juice has natural melatonin. I tried it for a week — like 100ml before bed — and weirdly enough, I started falling asleep faster. It’s got a tangy vibe, not super sweet.

Don’t overdo it though — too much and you’ll be up peeing all night. Learned that the awkward way.

Warm milk (or plant-based alternatives)

It’s old-school but it works. My grandma used to make me warm milk with honey when I was little. Still works today, but I usually go for almond or oat milk now.

Trick is: don’t boil it. Just warm enough to feel comforting, not like you're burning your tongue off.

Final thoughts: it’s not just what you drink

So yeah, what you drink when you're tired at night matters — but it’s also about what you don’t drink. No caffeine. No crazy sugar. Nothing that spikes you up and crashes you down.

For me, a cup of something warm, maybe with a calming scent, and a little quiet helps signal to my brain: hey, it’s time to slow down.

Try stuff out. See what works for you. Just maybe skip the Red Bull, okay? Learned that one the hard way.

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