It is true what they say: When women are above the age of 30, who work full-time and are married with children, sleep becomes the new sex. Women wish to have more of it to the point of daydreaming about it while at work, commuting on the way home or queuing at the supermarket. In 20s, they daydreamed about making out with George Cloone; these days, illicit fantasy involves getting eight greedy uninterrupted hours in bed - sleeping. In a bed they have all to themselves- no flailing toddler, no snoring husband.

Ironically, though their body is exhausted, their minds are maddeningly awake when they hit the sack. They are tired but they can't sleep. They often complain to their husband who cannot relate. He spent several years of his life going through medical school, residency and fellowship - more than a decade of sleep deprivation - so he is conditioned to grab every millisecond of shut-eye he possibly can. The moment his head hits the pillow he is out in record time. Meanwhile, women lie in bed awake until they can no longer ignore the urge to get up putter or go to look up something.

Apparently, they are far from alone. But honestly, when they're laying in bed dead tired the sexiest thing imaginable is a deep, black, dreamless sleep.

According to the experts, the following are signs that you're not getting enough sleep:

You feel tired and lack energy during the day.

You have a hard time paying attention during meetings.

You must use an alarm clock to wake up on time in the morning.

You start to doze off when you are driving a car.

You get less sleep than ever now - and not quality- sleep at that. Researchers suggest that women tend to be lighter sleepers, because they are the primary- responders to the needs of their infants.

Sleep used to be considered a basic human need like food, water or air. The transition to sleep was as simple as turning off the TV and switching off the lights. Today- we spend most of our waking hours plugged in - tapping out SMSes and e-mails, earplugs constantly connecting us to our phones, PDAs and MP3 players. It's hard to tear oneself away from one's personal electronic grid, even at 3am when Your Blackberry-attuned ears hear an impossible-to-ignore ping from across the room. It's easier to unthinkingly reach for the TV" remote rather than waste time waiting to fall asleep.

For women, it's worse because of our innate propensity to multi-task

Some nights, when having a headache of the size of a leg ham and need desperately to get some rest, knock you out with a Tylenol PM. Despite the reassurances on the label that it is "non-habit forming", worry about the day you'll have to hit with the harder stuff.

Looking at the "natural" remedies that will sync with your sensibilities or lifestyle. Relaxing with a hot bath? Don't forget to shave your both legs. Those bedside machines that make soothing nature and ocean sounds make you sleepy and relaxing various parts of your body in sequence.

Give up coffee and soda and get a fancy bed with sleep settings and memory foam pillows. Then look at your husband happily snoring on the same cheap pillow you are lying on. Sleep is for the weak says a fellow insomniac friend. Evidently - women are made of stronger stuff. They would just like to do that without the eye bags.