Irregular sleep patterns

[Merguez]

Almost 52. Still having regular periods. Occasional brain fog, grumpiness, overeating, absent-mindedness e.g. turning on kettle instead of oven. All these things though are down to my poor sleeping habits. If I sleep well I am fine. So what's causing the poor sleep? Anxiety - quite a stressful job. Sometimes wake up hot & sweaty. Have periods of about 3 consecutive nights when I sleep well, then 3 nights of v. disturbed nights. Trying to see if there's a pattern linked to my cycle.
Question is - is the sleep difficulty related to peri-menopause - and treatable in some way (not sleeping tablets)?
Take moderate exercise (brisk dog walking across country fields) every day. Drink 2 cups of coffee & 2 of tea a day, drink moderately at weekends. Eat healthily - unless I am tired. But lots of fresh food, fruit, veg.
I just feel that if I sorted the sleep out everything else would follow ...
Anyone got any advice for me.

[PollyPerky]

TBH it IS peri and the only thing that worked for me was HRT. I usually fall asleep in 10 seconds but during peri- at your age- I was wide awake for ages and waking several times a night. I was also having hourly hot flushes which were a PITA with work in a mixed sex environment. HRT sorted it within a week and now I still wake up at least once a night, sometimes twice, but it's better than it was. You might find the booze makes it all worse and if you do try HRT give the booze up. Even a daily glass raises the risk of breast cancer more than the very small risk with HRT so the two don't mix!

[PollyPerky]

oh yes- 4 cups of drinks with caffeine is not good either. I only drink herbal tea.

[Merguez]

I love my coffee and love my weekend glass of wine even more. :-(

[ragged]

I tried taking iodine for some other reason & my sleep suddenly got much better. I've had odd sleep patterns most my life, though.

Anyway, iodine supplements are very cheap to try!! I avoid caffeine after 2pm too & have some but not much booze.