Catching Z’s

Does the viral “sleepy girl mocktail” actually work? We tested it out.

I’m one of those people who’s notoriously tired. … That is until I actually get in bed and find myself up for hour(s) watching TikToks, stressing about all the things I need to do tomorrow and wondering where I put my passport. 

I don’t have insomnia, but you will almost never find me going to sleep just like *that*. I even take melatonin every night—and, at this point, I probably couldn’t slumber without it—but it still takes me ~30 minutes to actually doze off post-dosage. 

So, naturally, when I stumbled on the viral “sleepy girl mocktail,” I was intrigued. The power (nap) potion has taken over the internet—and from CNN to social media, everyone wants to know if it actually works. So I put it to the test. 

First off, the drink—made with magnesium powder, pure tart cherry juice and soda water—is absolutely delicious. Fruity, bubbly and refreshing, it’s everything you’d want in a mocktail. I’d honestly just drink it on its own solely for the taste.

And living up to its popularity, the berry-forward bev definitely does make me sleepy. While sipping, it is almost like a drowsiness that slowly creeps in over about an hour or so until I have no choice but to snooze. Instead of my typical tossing and turning, I am indeed a sleepy girl and fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow—which almost never happens, even with melatonin. 

Bonus: I’m also no longer restless throughout the night. And while the soothing sipper doesn’t necessarily induce a “waking up feeling super refreshed” feeling, there’s another miracle bev (ahem, coffee) for that. 

Now, before you chalk this up to placebo effect, these ingredients are actually backed by science. Tart cherry juice contains some melatonin, and magnesium produces a calming effect. And, obviously, trading a cocktail for a mocktail has its own set of benefits over its spirited sib, as alcohol is a known sleep-cycle disruptor. 

While I can’t guarantee this fruity elixir is going to downright knock you out, I can vouch for its sleepy properties. But don’t just take my word for it. Try it out for yourself via the recipe below.

Sleepy Girl Mocktail

⚫ 2 tsp. Moon Juice Magnesi-Om supplement (I rec the berry flavor!)

⚫ 1/2 cup pure tart cherry juice (be sure to get the all-natural, no-sugar-added version.
I used Lakewood Organic)

⚫ Soda water to taste

Mix all ingredients in a glass with ice.