I’ve never been a good sleeper, but over the last three years, perimenopause has made getting restful sleep a real challenge. Alongside brain fog, I’ve struggled with restless legs, jolting in my sleep and hot flushes. I now take clonidine to help regulate my body temperature so I can sleep, citalopram (an antidepressant) and HRT. But still, my sleep quality is low – and it’s affecting my energy.

I juggle two jobs – one as a lab manager at a science institution and the other as a personal trainer in the evenings – so life can be pretty stressful at times, which I presume doesn’t help with the sleep issues. My ‘main’ job has also been particularly challenging recently as I lost my two deputies 16 months ago and we’re struggling to replace them, so I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.

My work as a personal trainer means I’m very active: every week I teach three 45-minute spin classes and lead two 5km run club sessions. I also walk my dog for 15-30 minutes five times a week. It’s a lot to juggle on top of my work, so I need lots of energy to keep going – something I’m not getting at the moment due to my poor sleep. I just want to know how to get the restful sleep I crave so my energy levels improve.

“Perimenopause has exacerbated my pre-existing sleep issues – what can I do to get the rest I crave?”