Why Sleep Is Your #1 Cortisol Reset Button (and How to Master It)
When we think of stress relief, we often reach for surface-level solutions—smoothie bowls, supplements, or yoga classes. But sometimes the most powerful wellness upgrade is the simplest one—SLEEP.
Sleep isn’t just about feeling rested. It’s your body’s built-in reset button—especially when it comes to regulating cortisol, your primary stress hormone.
If you’ve been stuck in survival mode, waking up groggy, feeling foggy by 3 p.m., and battling cravings or burnout, your sleep hygiene might be sabotaging your healing.
Let’s break it down…
🧠 What Just One Night of Poor Sleep Can Do:
🔺 Increase cortisol by 37–45%
🍩 Boost hunger hormones (hello, cravings) by 24%
💉 Reduce insulin sensitivity, making blood sugar swings more likely
🧩 Impairs cognitive function (decision fatigue is real!)
💥 Decrease willpower, making healthy choices harder
When your sleep is off, your whole system suffers. And the kicker? Cortisol and sleep have a two-way relationship:
➡️ High cortisol disrupts sleep
➡️ Poor sleep raises cortisol
Breaking this cycle requires intentional evening habits—not just wishful thinking.
🌙 Your Cortisol-Friendly Evening Routine
These tips may seem small, but together they can transform your sleep quality, reduce stress, and help you show up as your best self:
⏰ Set a consistent bedtime (yes, even on weekends!)
💡 Dim lights 2 hours before bed to cue melatonin production
🍽️ Stop eating 3 hours before bed to let digestion rest
📵 Create a tech-free zone 60 minutes before sleep to reduce stimulation
🌡️ Cool your bedroom to 65–68°F (18–20°C) for optimal rest
🛑 Use blackout curtains or an eye mask to block melatonin disruptors
🤸🏾♀️ Do 5–10 minutes of gentle stretching or deep breathing to transition out of “go mode”
💡 Why This Matters for Women on a Healing Journey
If you're navigating hormone imbalances, recovering from burnout, or just trying to feel like you again, sleep is one of the most underrated healing tools you have access to—for free.
No supplement, workout, or detox can replace what quality sleep does for your adrenal health, mental clarity, and emotional regulation.
This week, challenge yourself to make sleep sacred. Protect your peace. Prioritize your evening rhythm. And most of all—give yourself permission to rest deeply.
Need support creating a lifestyle that nourishes your body from the inside out?
✔️ Grab the 30-Day Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan to fuel your sleep + recovery
✔️ Join the Simplify Healthy Eating Membership for recipes and guidance that honor your healing season
✔️ Check out our Faith + Mindset Journals to help you reset mentally and spiritually
➡️ Start your healing journey today at TheRelentlesslyEmpowered.com
➡️ Follow @michelle11leslie on IG for daily tools and encouragement