Feeling Drained? For Many Women, It Starts (and Ends) With Sleep

We often talk about self-care like it’s a luxury. A massage, a quiet coffee, an early night. But for many women, particularly in their 30s, 40s, and beyond, even the basics of recovery have quietly fallen off the list. Sleep is one of them.

And as Mother’s Day approaches, it’s worth pausing to ask: when was the last time she — or you — felt truly rested?

There’s a reason so many women feel worn out — and it’s not just being busy.

Women are more likely to report poor sleep than men. That’s not just anecdotal —In fact, studies show that women are nearly twice as likely to experience poor sleep quality compared to men, with 33% of women waking up frequently each night, compared to 27% of men（BMC Psychiatr)(Sleep Foundation)

Hormonal shifts during menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause affect the body’s temperature regulation, mood, and circadian rhythm. Add the mental load of caregiving, work, and the invisible “to-do list” many women carry daily, and sleep becomes not just elusive — it becomes insufficient.

Even when women do get their 7-8 hours, they’re more likely to wake up feeling unrefreshed. Light sleep. Night sweats. A racing mind that won’t quiet down. A body that’s physically tired, but never truly lets go.

The signs show up in quiet ways.

Skin that feels dull, even with a full routine. Afternoon crashes that feel like a wall, not a dip. Snappier moods and a shorter fuse, especially around hormonal shifts. Brain fog that makes you forget why you walked into the room, etc.

We chalk it up to age. Or stress. Or being “busy.” But what if the core issue was that your body hasn’t had a real chance to recover for weeks, months, maybe even years? 

Real rest isn’t about how long you sleep. It’s about how well you’re supported when you do.

For women, especially as their bodies change, sleep is no longer just about going to bed on time. It’s about creating the right environment for deep, uninterrupted rest. That includes a dark, cool room. Reduced mental clutter before bed. And yes, physical support that allows the body to let go.

Many of us sleep on mattresses that don’t account for how women carry weight differently, how posture shifts during hormonal phases, or how joint pain and tension accumulate in specific areas like the hips, lower back, and neck.

It’s not always about buying something new. Sometimes, it’s about realising what you’ve been tolerating — and giving yourself permission to expect more from your rest.

This Mother’s Day, maybe the most meaningful gift isn’t a treat — it’s a reset.

But not the kind of reset that means dropping everything or escaping your life. Sometimes, it’s simpler than that. It’s about giving yourself a moment to step back — a chance to listen to what your body actually needs.

For some, that might be an hour of uninterrupted quiet, a walk by the beach, or even just the luxury of waking up without an alarm. For others, it could mean a night where sleep doesn’t feel like a battle.

We talk a lot about self-care, but what if it’s not just about bubble baths or skincare routines? What if it’s simply about letting yourself stop, even when there’s always something else to do?

Because rest isn’t just something you earn after checking off a to-do list. It’s the foundation that makes everything else possible. When you sleep well, your skin repairs, your energy refills, and your mind clears. It’s waking up without the aches, without the stiffness, without the sense that your body has been fighting all night to stay comfortable. 

We often plan flowers, brunches, or a nice dinner. But what if, instead of trying to make the day special, we simply gave her a chance to rest? No rushing, no fuss — just a quiet morning, a slow start, or even the luxury of nice sleeping in.

Because sometimes, the most generous thing we can do is give her space to breathe, to let go, to actually rest

Moms deserve to feel good every day, not just when they finally ‘earn it.’