Jennifer Aniston Reveals Her History With Sleepwalking And Insomnia

Jennifer Aniston, 53, told People that for decades bedtime felt "almost like walking the plank." She believes the issues, which have included sleepwalking, sleep anxiety, and insomnia started in her 30s or earlier.

"It began as something that I would just accept and then all of a sudden you realize the effects of your lack of sleep and how it affects your day and your work and your mind function and your physique," she said. The star said her sleepwalking was so bad that she actually tripped off her own house alarm, but she doesn't believe she does that anymore.

Getting medical help wasn't a real priority until recent years when she realized that insomnia was a real issue. "You can't really abide by the three pillars of health — which are diet, exercise, and sleep — if you can't really exercise and you can't really eat right if you haven't slept well because your body clock is so completely thrown off," Aniston said.

In addition to medical help, the "Friends" star said maintaining a nighttime ritual at the same time every night is helpful. Hers consists of winding down, doing stretches or yoga, and keeping her phone out of the bedroom.

Getting a good night of sleep provides a myriad of benefits, including catering to your heart health. What time you should go to sleep each night can vary based on your schedule and chronotype, but there are a few practices anyone can implement.

For starters, consider the color of your bedroom. Earthy, neutral tones and soft, pale hues have been found to be beneficial, according to Mindbodygreen. It's also a good idea to limit your water intake within a few hours of bedtime so that you're not interrupting your sleep by getting up to use the bathroom. Reading before you go to bed is a common nighttime ritual, but be sure to read outside of the bedroom. If you need to shut out extra light, consider finding a sleep mask to help you go to sleep and stay asleep. Lastly, melatonin supplements may be helpful if you have a particularly difficult time going to sleep.