Sleep before
your period
By Ben Jonas Goedeke · 2 min read · checked against its sources
Sleep often changes in the days before a period. Some people cannot fall asleep; others sleep far more than usual and still wake up tired.
Too little sleep can make moodiness worse, so those nights are worth protecting.
Small things that help
Go to bed and get up at about the same time, even on days off.
Put phones and tablets away for an hour before bed, and find a calm routine that tells your body the day is over.
Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and cool.
Swap late coffee or tea for a warm milky drink, and go easy on alcohol, which disturbs sleep.
When it lasts
If sleep problems carry on beyond the hard week, or leave you struggling to get through the day, talk to your doctor.
Keep the record your doctor needs. Tideline is a period and mood tracker for iPhone: write one sentence a day, and after two cycles it puts the week before your period next to the week after it starts. Free to track, no account.
Get Tideline on the App Store
Keep reading
Sources
- US Office on Women’s Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- NHS Every Mind Matters: How to fall asleep faster and sleep better