When we talk about mental health, we talk about therapy, meditation, journaling, supplements. But there’s one thing we often overlook - sleep. Not just the amount, but the quality. And if you’re a woman in midlife, navigating the whirlwind of hormonal changes, the sleep you used to have might now feel like a distant memory.
But here’s the truth: sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation of your mental wellbeing. And it’s time we start treating it like one.
Why sleep matters for mental health
There’s growing research that shows poor sleep isn't just about feeling groggy. It can:
* Increase anxiety and emotional reactivity
* Lower your ability to cope with stress
* Contribute to mood swings and irritability
* Disrupt cognitive function and decision-making
For women experiencing perimenopause or menopause, disrupted sleep is often linked to hormone-driven changes in breathing, especially an increase in mouth breathing. This can lead to dry mouth, snoring, fragmented sleep - and the next-day fog that makes life feel harder than it should.
The missing link: breathing while you sleep
Here’s where things get interesting: the way you *breathe* at night affects the quality of your rest.
Mouth breathing activates your sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight one). Nasal breathing, on the other hand, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - the one that helps you feel calm, grounded, and ready to sleep.
When you switch from mouth breathing to nasal breathing, you sleep deeper. You stay asleep longer. And you wake up with a clear head and a steadier mood.
So what can you do?
There are plenty of things you can try: magnesium, breathwork, a calming wind-down routine. But the simplest, most effective place to start? Encourage your body to breathe through your nose while you sleep.
That’s where our Sleep Tape comes in.
Designed specifically for women, kip&glow Sleep Tape is hypoallergenic, non-invasive, and shaped to support gentle nasal breathing - without the scary full-mouth coverage of other tapes. It’s light on your skin and easy to remove, so you can reclaim your rest without fear or discomfort.
Sleep is self-care, not self-indulgence
This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to rethink your wellness routine. Because no amount of green juice, journaling, or therapy can truly work if you’re constantly exhausted.
Sleep is not the thing you do after self-care. It is self-care.
So tonight, instead of scrolling, try taping. Instead of pushing through, try winding down. Instead of settling for tired, aim for well-rested.
Your mind will thank you in the morning.
Prioritise your mental wellbeing with better sleep. Try kip&glow Sleep Tape tonight.
