I went through that same "morning grogginess" cycle with melatonin for a long time, and it was miserable. Switching to a high-quality
valerian root liquid extract was the best decision I ever made for my nighttime routine. Because it is a liquid, it kicks in quite quickly—usually about 30 to 45 minutes before I want to sleep. It helps quiet that mental chatter and helps me drift off into a deep, restorative sleep naturally. The best part is that I wake up feeling genuinely refreshed rather than like a zombie. It doesn't leave that heavy "hungover" feeling that synthetic sleep aids often do. I recommend taking it consistently for a few nights to let your body adjust. Just a dropper full mixed into a little bit of water or taken directly works wonders.