Sleep and Your Period

Our blog post today is brought to you by the team over at Flax Sleep.

Your period is nothing to lose sleep over, but unfortunately, menstruation and overheated, uncomfortable and disrupted sleeps often go hand-in-hand. While there are a number of factors that could cause sporadic and sudden temperature increases in the time around or during your period, hormones are often a key player in that game. Here are a few at-home remedies to help you limit those side effects and grab some much needed zzz’s.

Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Aside from blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain, caffeine produces adrenaline and increases the heart rate - two things that definitely do not equal a good night’s sleep. The faster your heart rate is at the time you’re trying to doze off, the more likely you are to sweat and overheat. While it’s a good idea in general to steer clear of caffeine during menstruation in order to reduce cramping, abstaining may also help you keep those night sweats at bay.

Stay Calm

Easier said than done, right? We’ve all been there - not being able to fall asleep because you’re stressing and then stressing out more because you can’t fall asleep. It’s a sweaty, unpleasant and frustrating cycle that’s a tough one to break. Since stress is one of the main reasons why folks have a hard time falling asleep under any circumstances, finding a way to wind down and relax is absolutely beneficial to a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s something as simple as taking deep breaths or putting on audio of falling rain or other relaxing noises, it’s important to be mindful of your stress levels and to take the time to center yourself.

Avoid Eating Heavy Foods Before Bed

While you sleep, your body is still very much on the clock. Therefore, being mindful of what you eat directly before heading off to bed could help you get a better night’s sleep. Digesting and processing food takes energy and energy generates heat. Consuming foods that are high in saturated fats or animal proteins right before dozing off means that your body is going to kick things into digestion high gear and use an increased amount of energy, which ultimately contributes to overheated sleeps.

Go Au Naturel

A few practical changes to your bedroom and bedtime routine can make a big difference when it comes to temperature regulation while you snooze. Synthetic materials are more likely to trap in heat and make you sweat, so it’s best to avoid those as much as possible. Instead, opt for loose-fitting pajamas made out of natural fabrics and bedding made out of breathable, cooling fabrics such as linen.

Menstruation takes it out of you, plain and simple. Keeping cool, calm and collected during this time can seem daunting and unattainable (especially in the summertime), but with a few small actions, you’ll soon be on your way to a better night’s sleep.

The internet is great and all, but If you are experiencing severe and uncharacteristic overheating and sleep disturbances during menstruation, please go see your doctor to ensure that you are a-okay.

Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash