Sleep is Non-Negotiable, no matter your life stage
WRITTEN BY SAM SADIGHI
If there’s one area of your life that deserves to be at the very top of your priority list, it’s sleep. Whether you’re a mum running on crumbs of rest because your child isn’t sleeping well, a woman juggling work, family, relationships, and the endless mental load, or you’re navigating the hormonal rollercoaster of perimenopause and menopause, sleep is the foundation that holds everything else together. And when it slips, everything else feels harder.
We often believe that pushing through exhaustion is just part of modern life. We minimise our tiredness, laugh it off, and keep going because that’s what we’ve been conditioned to do. But the truth is this: everything gets better when you sleep better. Your mood, your patience, your ability to think clearly, your relationships, your energy levels, your appetite, your hormones, your performance at work or in exercise… all of it rests on the quality of your rest.
Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a biological essential. And when it becomes the thing you finally give attention to, you create a ripple effect of positive change across your entire life.
For mums whose little ones aren’t sleeping well, the nights can feel endless and the days even longer. You’re not just tired, you’re depleted. Your brain is doing its best with what it’s got, but broken nights make everything from decision-making to emotional regulation more difficult. You can’t be the Mum you want to be, because frankly you’re just too tired. So then comes the guilt (and we all know, that’s the only thing that comes naturally as a Mum). Prioritising sleep isn’t selfish; it’s a crucial step towards being the mother you want to be. When you sleep more, you cope better, feel calmer, are more present, and have more resilience for the inevitable challenges that come with raising children.
For women who are balancing multiple priorities, sleep is the difference between simply surviving and truly functioning. When you’re pulled in different directions and trying to keep everything afloat, it’s tempting to sacrifice your bedtime to “catch up”, whether that’s on work, cleaning, life admin or the only quiet moments you get. But the irony is that staying up late robs you of the very resource your brain needs to handle the next day with clarity and confidence. One solid night of sleep can restore your focus, lift your mood, and make your workload feel manageable again.
Then there are the women navigating perimenopause and menopause, which is a time when your sleep may feel like it’s suddenly out of your control. Hormonal changes can lead to night sweats, hot flushes, early-morning waking, and restless nights. This isn’t “just how it is”; it’s a sign that your body needs support. Improving sleep during this stage isn’t just about feeling rested. It influences your metabolism, your emotional wellbeing, your cardiovascular health, and your ability to manage symptoms. The better you sleep, the more empowered you feel in your own body.
No matter which chapter of life you’re in, (heck, maybe you’re in all of the above at once!), sleep gives you the greatest return on investment of any wellbeing habit. You don’t need perfection. You just need a starting point. Small, consistent changes can transform your days, your mindset, your health, and your sense of control.
If you’re going to focus on anything, start with sleep. Everything else will fall into place so much more easily when you’re rested.
