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If you’ve been tossing and turning, waking up multiple times, or just can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep no matter what you try, you might be dealing with something you haven’t considered yet: high cortisol levels.
Cortisol — often called the “stress hormone” — plays a huge role in how well you sleep. When cortisol is out of balance, especially elevated at night, it can disrupt your sleep cycle, leading to insomnia, restlessness, or waking up feeling drained and foggy.
In this post, we’ll break down the connection between cortisol and sleep disorders, explain why high cortisol at night is such a common culprit behind poor sleep (especially after 40), and share natural ways to help lower cortisol, including our Cortisol Tea Bundle that many of our customers are raving about for better sleep.
What Is Cortisol and Why Does It Matter for Sleep?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It helps regulate your body’s “fight or flight” response, blood sugar levels, metabolism, and inflammation. It also plays a key role in your circadian rhythm — the internal clock that tells you when to wake and when to sleep.
In a healthy cycle, cortisol peaks in the early morning to help you wake up and start the day energized, then gradually decreases throughout the day, reaching its lowest levels at night to allow your body to relax and rest.
But when stress, lifestyle factors, or other imbalances cause high cortisol at night, this natural rhythm gets thrown off. Elevated cortisol can cause:
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Difficulty falling asleep (increased sleep latency)
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Frequent waking throughout the night
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Restless or light sleep
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Waking up too early and being unable to fall back asleep
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Feeling tired or “wired but tired” in the morning
Many people ask: “Can high cortisol cause insomnia?” The answer is yes — elevated cortisol is strongly linked with several types of sleep issues.
The Science Behind Cortisol and Sleep Problems
Studies have shown that people with sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep deprivation, often have higher-than-normal cortisol levels, especially at night. This constant state of heightened alertness can keep your brain and body in “stress mode,” making restful sleep impossible.
One study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that participants with chronic insomnia had significantly elevated nighttime cortisol levels compared to good sleepers. This kind of research helps explain why stress and cortisol imbalances are at the root of many sleep problems.
How to Lower High Cortisol Naturally for Better Sleep
The good news? You can support your body’s natural cortisol cycle and improve your sleep with simple, natural habits. Here are some of the best ways:
1. Try a Daily Routine That Calms Your Nervous System
Practices like meditation, deep breathing, gentle yoga, or journaling before bed help signal to your body that it’s time to unwind. This lowers cortisol and prepares you for rest.
Try this 90-day sleep tracker journal.
2. Limit Blue Light Exposure in the Evening
Blue light from phones, tablets, and computers can trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime, boosting cortisol and disrupting melatonin production (the hormone that helps you sleep). Consider wearing blue light-blocking glasses or using screen filters after sunset.
We use these blue-light blocking glasses.
3. Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment
Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. Using tools like a weighted blanket or a sleep mask can help reduce stress and promote deeper sleep.
Have you tried a weighted blanket? It's great for restless sleepers.
4. Watch What and When You Eat
Avoid caffeine and heavy meals late in the day, as they can elevate cortisol and make falling asleep harder.
5. Drink the Cortisol Tea Bundle
Our specially crafted Cortisol Tea Bundle is designed to work with your body’s natural rhythm, calming you during the day and supporting restful sleep at night.
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Cortisol Daytime Tea combines soothing herbs like Rooibos, Tulsi, Lavender, and Rose petals to gently reduce stress and keep cortisol balanced throughout the day.
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Cortisol Evening Tea features Nettle leaf, Ashwagandha, Skullcap, and Oatstraw — powerful adaptogens and calming herbs that help lower cortisol at night, reduce restlessness, and support deep sleep.
Why Cortisol & Sleep Get Worse After 40
If you’ve noticed that sleep feels more elusive in your 40s and beyond, you’re not imagining it—and cortisol might be a big part of the problem. As we age, our hormone levels naturally shift, and that includes the stress hormone cortisol. While some fluctuations are totally normal, chronic high cortisol becomes more common after 40 due to a few key factors:
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Hormonal Changes: Estrogen and progesterone—two hormones that support restful sleep—start to decline during perimenopause and menopause. These changes can make your body more sensitive to cortisol spikes, especially at night.
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Stress Load Accumulates: By midlife, many people are juggling careers, parenting, aging parents, and more. This constant low-grade stress can keep your cortisol levels elevated around the clock.
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Slower Metabolism & Recovery: Your body becomes less efficient at clearing out stress hormones as you age, meaning cortisol can stay higher for longer, and interfere with your sleep cycle more intensely.
This is why high cortisol and sleep issues after 40 tend to go hand-in-hand, and why many people report more sleep disturbances, early morning wake-ups, and overall restlessness starting in midlife. The good news? Your body is still incredibly capable of restoring balance.
Ready to Reset Your Sleep with the Cortisol Tea Bundle?
Don’t let high cortisol steal your rest. Support your body’s natural rhythm with our gentle, effective, and delicious Cortisol Tea Bundle!
Join the many happy customers saying goodbye to restless nights and hello to peaceful, restorative sleep.
Have more questions about the Cortisol Tea Bundle? We answered them all here.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is has been compiled from published sources and is provided only as a guide. While every effort has been taken to ensure that information published on this site is correct and up to date, this is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness. Also, although all of our teas are generally regarded as safe, please consult your doctor before trying any herbal remedies, especially if currently using medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.