Whether you’re eating your leftover candy, sneaking some from your kid’s Halloween stockpile or you have your own stash of treats you’re saving to snack on, it’s hard to turn down the sweet stuff this time of year. While it makes for a nice movie-watching snack or dessert, eating too many sweets too close to bedtime can harm your sleep and make it harder to doze off.

Having a rush of energy when you should be winding down is counterproductive to a good night’s rest, which may leave you feeling groggy or unrefreshed the morning after.

If you (or your kiddos) have treated yourselves to your fair share of Halloween candy, caramel apples and pumpkin bread this holiday, here are some tips and tricks to help promote sleepiness during a sugar rush.

For more help falling asleep, here are six ways to doze off faster and how to tackle anxiety at night.

Why sugar affects sleep

A 2019 study conducted by the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found those who eat high amounts of sugar experience restlessness and less deep sleep at night. Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup found in candy can also significantly increase blood sugar levels, giving you what feels like a rush of energy that makes it more challenging to drift off to sleep.

Sugar can also delay your body’s natural melatonin production, a hormone that plays a role in your sleep-wake cycle and promotes sleepiness. As a result, your late-night sweet tooth can be

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