You've tried warm milk, noise machines, and the occasional sleeping pill, but you still find yourself staring at the alarm clock through the night. Studies show that the long-term effects of insomnia can add up to more than under-eye baggage. Research suggests that people with insomnia are more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 car accidents each year are caused by drowsy drivers. If nothing's worked for you, perhaps one of these tips will help.

Exercise earlier in the day. Researchers have been telling us for years that regular exercise relieves daily tension and stress, often leading to a more restful night. A study last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that folks who worked out four times a week for 30 minutes fell asleep 12 minutes faster and slept 42 minutes longer than those who failed to exercise. Now experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle say that morning sweat sessions work better than those in the afternoon or evening. The study, published in the November Journal SLEEP, found that women who worked out (walked briskly or rode a stationary bike) five mornings a week for at least 45 minutes were more likely to fall asleep faster than those who worked out in the evenings. Scientists aren’t sure why this is, but they know it has to do with the way morning workouts affect circadian rhythms—the internal clock that helps regulate sleep patterns. If your schedule allows, try heading to the gym in the morning—it may mean better rest at night.

Say "Om." You may not need a sleeping pill as much as a yoga mat, according to experts at the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Research is still ongoing, but one early study showed that 20 people who performed four specific Kundalini yoga exercises—seated moves performed with a straight spine and an emphasis on breathing—for 45 minutes a day, 7 days a week for 8 weeks fell asleep faster and slept more soundly, says principal investigator Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD.

Consider acupuncture. A recent literature review at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing concluded that acupuncture therapy may help relieve sleepless nights. The report reviewed 11 studies published since 1985, in which participants reported sleeping longer after having received some form of acupuncture in the ears, legs, arms, wrists, or scalp. The duration of insomnia varied from 3 days to 34 years, the average being 5 years. Participants from eight of the studies reported an 80 percent improvement rate. The authors say that more research is needed to determine the long-term effect of acupuncture and compare it with other sleep treatments, though—so you may want to wait before you head for the needle.