Welcome to Sleeptember 2026 – The Sleep Charity’s annual awareness month dedicated to helping people understand the importance of sleep and discover practical ways to sleep better. This September, The Sleep Charity is putting women’s health and sleep in the spotlight, with a particular focus on the impact menopause can have on getting a good night’s sleep.
This year, we’re delighted to be working with Issviva Menopause to explore the important relationship between women’s health, hormonal changes and sleep.
Because while sleep is essential for everyone’s health and wellbeing, women’s sleep can be affected by a whole range of biological and hormonal changes throughout life. Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause can all influence sleep – and for many women, sleep difficulties can become particularly noticeable during the menopause transition.
When menopause affects your sleep
Sleep problems are one of the many symptoms women can experience during perimenopause and menopause.
Changing hormone levels can contribute to symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, while changes in mood, increased anxiety and racing thoughts can also make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep.
You might find yourself waking several times during the night, struggling to get back to sleep or waking earlier than usual. You may also feel exhausted during the day, affecting concentration, mood and your overall sense of wellbeing.
And it can become a frustrating cycle. The less sleep you get, the harder it can feel to cope with the demands of everyday life.
But struggling with sleep doesn’t mean you simply have to put up with it.
Understanding what may be affecting your sleep and making small, manageable changes can be a positive first step.
This Sleeptember, we’re talking about sleep
Throughout September, we’ll be sharing practical advice, expert information and resources designed to help women understand their sleep and find strategies that work for them.
We’ll be exploring everything from creating a comfortable sleep environment and establishing a relaxing evening routine to the potential role of nutrition, stress management and tracking your sleep.
Our message is simple: sleep matters, and women’s sleep health matters.
Five free resources to support better sleep
As part of Sleeptember 2026, we’ve created a collection of free resources to help you make positive changes to your sleep .
1. Evening Routine Guide
The transition from a busy day to sleep doesn’t always happen automatically.
Our Evening Routine Guide offers practical ideas to help you create a consistent wind-down routine and give your body and mind time to prepare for sleep.
2. Cooling Sleep Environment Checklist
Night sweats and feeling too hot can make getting comfortable at night challenging.
Our Cooling Sleep Environment Checklist provides simple suggestions for creating a cooler, more comfortable bedroom and making your sleep environment work better for you.
3. Sleep Diary
Sometimes it can be difficult to understand what’s affecting your sleep.
A Sleep Diary can help you spot patterns by recording your sleep, night-time waking, lifestyle factors and symptoms. Over time, this may help you identify what is supporting your sleep – and what might be disrupting it.
4. Nutrition Tips
What we eat and drink can form part of a healthy sleep routine.
Our Nutrition Tips resource explores practical ways to support your overall wellbeing and create habits that are conducive to better sleep.
5. Stress Reduction Exercises
Stress and sleep can have a complicated relationship. When your mind is busy, switching off at bedtime can be difficult.
Our Stress Reduction Exercises provide simple techniques that you can incorporate into your day or evening to help you pause, relax and prepare for rest.
Small changes can make a difference
There isn’t a single solution that guarantees a good night’s sleep, particularly when sleep is being affected by hormonal changes.
Instead, it can be helpful to focus on small, realistic changes that fit into your life.
That might mean creating a regular bedtime routine, making your bedroom cooler, finding ways to manage stress or keeping a sleep diary to understand your individual patterns.
And remember, sleep doesn’t need to be perfect. Everyone has occasional disrupted nights. The aim is to build healthy habits and understand what helps you sleep well.
Don’t suffer in silence
If sleep problems are persistent, affecting your day-to-day life or leaving you feeling exhausted, it’s important to seek support.
Sleep difficulties during menopause are common, but ongoing sleep problems shouldn’t simply be dismissed as something you have to live with.
Speak to a healthcare professional if you’re concerned about your symptoms or your sleep. They can help you explore the possible causes and discuss appropriate support.
Join us this Sleeptember
Throughout September, we’ll be sharing advice, tips, expert insights and practical resources across our social channels. You can download our resource pack here
We’ll be encouraging everyone to get involved, start conversations and help break down some of the stigma around women’s health and sleep.
Follow The Sleep Charity throughout September and join the conversation using:
#Sleeptember #MenopauseSleep
Together with Issviva Menopause, we’re shining a light on women’s sleep health and helping more women understand that better sleep is an important part of looking after their health and wellbeing.