42: Sleeping Badly in Midlife? Let's Fix That - With Laura Murphy of The Sleep Shift

Do you wake at 3am with your brain running through tomorrow's to-do list? Fall asleep on the sofa but lie wide awake the moment your head hits the pillow? Or feel like poor sleep is just something women in midlife have to put up with?In this week's episode, I'm joined by sleep specialist occupational therapist Laura Murphy, founder of The Sleep Shift, to separate sleep fact from fiction.We dive into what actually happens to our sleep during perimenopause, why one bad night can spiral into weeks of disrupted sleep, and why trying harder to sleep is often exactly the wrong approach.We also tackle some of the biggest sleep myths doing the rounds on social media, from blue light glasses and melatonin to magnesium, sleep trackers and that evening glass of wine.If you've ever felt like your body has forgotten how to sleep, this episode will leave you feeling informed, reassured and, most importantly, hopeful.In this episode we discuss:✨ Why women are more prone to sleep problems, especially in midlife✨ What hormones really do (and don't do) to your sleep✨ Why you can fall asleep on the sofa but not in bed✨ The surprising science behind your sleep drive✨ Why 3am worries always feel so overwhelming✨ Morning light, circadian rhythms and building better sleep✨ The truth about melatonin supplements✨ Blue light glasses: useful or marketing hype?✨ Are sleep trackers helping or making things worse?✨ Caffeine, alcohol and magnesium: what the evidence actually says✨ What CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) is and why it's considered the gold standard treatment✨ Why better sleep isn't about perfection, but understanding your own bodyAbout LauraLaura is a sleep specialist OT and founder of The Sleep Shift. She offers personalised therapy to busy, sleep deprived adults, particularly women in midlife, focusing on rebuilding a healthier, more sustainable relationship with their sleep.After over a decade working in NHS mental health services, and her own experience of difficulties sleeping, Laura recognised that good-quality sleep really is the foundation for health and wellbeing. That's when it became the focus of her work.Her approach is grounded in evidence-based methods including CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), while remaining personalised and in touch with real life.She's passionate about challenging the idea that women in midlife simply have to accept disrupted sleep as their bodies and lives change. Instead she helps them understand what's really impacting their sleep, beyond the hormone fluctuations and night sweats, identify their own unique needs and make the simple, realistic shifts to improve their sleep, helping them feel like themselves again.Find Laura:Instagram: @the_sleep_shiftWebsite: https://thesleepshift.co.uk