I am obsessed with sleep. I love the benefits of uninterrupted sleep so much that I rarely miss out on it. This means I get seven to seven-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. When I don’t, I sure know -and FEEL - it! I’m edgier, hungrier for sugar, and less motivated to move.

Of all the strategies I teach to help us journey through midlife and beyond, the first module for my Master Menopause course is all about how sleep can change your perimenopause and menopause experience. My wellness wheel encompassed those lifestyle choices that I’m convinced will bring our greatest holistic wellness.

Stay tuned for details on the webinar I’m hosting in September to introduce it to you. 

Almost half of Americans report having trouble sleeping. Like many lifestyle issues, sleep is often ignored to address perimenopause and menopause and other issues associated with them, like weight gain, anxiety, and forgetfulness. During perimenopause and menopause, the chances of all three of these are great. As a society, we are convinced food and exercise are the answers to feeling better.

Yet we are not yet talking regularly about how seven to seven-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted sleep can go a long way to helping us feel better.

Let’s look at the myriad of products in the marketplace that purportedly aid sleep.

We all know there are prescription medications. In fact, 25 percent of Americans today are taking a sleep med to help them with their sleep. Just about half of those 65 and older take meds for sleep.

The mattress industry alone is a $36 billion dollar industry.

The sleep supplement industry is enormous, with the melatonin market representing $500M in the United States.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because I am convinced that when we simply make sleep a top priority, we develop our very own handful of sleep hacks and strategies that don’t “break the bank.” In fact, many of the tips we teach at Alexandria Wellness are FREE.

Speaking of free… I’ve recently just discovered a sleep product I found right here at Bellacara. It is called The Good Patch in Dream. I tend to not be a big “patch” person for reasons that aren’t related to today’s conversation. Yet, I surprised myself and really liked the patch!

I loved this $12 patch for four reasons:

1. It goes on your wrist.

2. It was easy to put on and take off.

3. It provides beautiful plant-based ingredients like melatonin, hops, and valerian root AND for over 8-12 hours to help you sleep.

4. It serves as a gentle reminder to make sleep a top priority and, therefore, to:

   • put down the phone, book, or device

   • stop conversation

   • calm the mind

   • focus on breathing

   • go to sleep!

Give your brain a break. Start your day on the right foot with a good night’s sleep. Check out The Good Patch Dream at Bellacara!