Going with Your Flow: Harnessing the Power of Your Menstrual Cycle
Have you ever felt like your energy and productivity levels fluctuate without rhyme or reason? One day you're killing it, getting things done, and slaying the day. Then the next, you can barely muster the motivation to tackle your to-do list, let alone move. What if I told you that the key to mastering your productivity lies within your own body, specifically, your menstrual cycle? That’s right, sis, instead of simply living with your menstruation period, you could be optimizing your flow phases by utilizing them to better manage your time and energy.
The menstrual cycle, often seen as an inconvenience or even a taboo subject, holds a wealth of untapped potential when it comes to managing time, energy, and overall well-being. Although society wants us to believe otherwise, it’s far from being a hindrance. Understanding and harnessing the power of your menstrual cycle can be a game-changer in how you approach your daily life and work.
In this article, I'll dive into the fascinating world of menstrual cycle optimization. We'll explore how the four distinct phases—menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal—impact your energy levels and productivity so that you can truly tap into the power of your period. Going with your flow is all about aligning your tasks and activities with your body's natural rhythms, allowing you to work smarter, not harder, and it all starts with unleashing the power of your feminine energy.
My Story
As a self-proclaimed, “Retired Overachiever”, I know a thing or two about being all too eager to join the hamster wheel of being ambitious and goal-driven. Once upon a time, I thrived on operating in the constant push and pull of hustle culture. After all, I was able to earn two degrees, launch a business, and write and self-publish four novels. I prided myself on being a doer, a woman who could and would get everything done, no matter what. But the funny thing about life, it will humble you!
For most of my existence, I strived to be a woman who could do it all, but at what cost? Even with all of the great things I was able to accomplish, including penning my latest novel and balancing two full-time high-visibility careers at the same time (yes, you read that right). I eventually pushed my mind and body way too far. Burnout is real, my friends, and I were seriously feeling it. My anxiety got the best of me, I was exhausted, and it felt like I was drowning in the sea of my responsibilities. Finally, I had to ask myself, “What is this all for?” When I couldn’t come up with a good enough answer, I forced myself to get off the hamster wheel.
I’m happy to say that the days of balancing two full-time jobs are behind me. Although the money was GREAT, I do not recommend it. It took me about six months, combating PTSD, forced rest, and major soul-searching to finally feel like myself again. Being the ambitious woman that I am, I was ready to dive back into my goals and passions. However, this time I aimed to do things differently. That’s when I discovered the book, “Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women” by Kate Northrop. This gem completely shifted my perspective on how I utilize my time, and energy, and honor my female energy cycles.
As soon as I began reading this book, I was captivated by how much my menstrual cycle influenced how I could show up in the world. As a young girl, I vividly remember being terrified of getting my period. And when I woke up with it on Christmas day many, many years ago, I cried for about an hour because I simply did not want it. The maturity that comes with adulthood allowed me to simply accept the inconvenience that would come every month. I grew accustomed to planning my vacations around good ole’ Aunt Flo as best as I could. When I felt my hormones raging, I just would write it off as PMS and treat myself to a Snickers candy bar to cope.
Besides preparing my body for pregnancy, (when I see fit) I was completely oblivious to the fact that I could be working with my flow cycle, not against it. Menstrual cycle awareness has done wonders by changing the way that I show up, but also how I show up. And it all started with tapping into my femininity.
Flowing with Your Femininity
When it came to understanding my femininity and using it to my advantage, I suddenly realized that I had a very masculine approach to work, amongst other things. This was very eye-opening, but not completely surprising. By nature, our culture emphasizes force, not flow. It encourages us to constantly find ways to do more instead of less and values masculine energy over feminine energy. (Hello, patriarchy). With these two energies, it’s important to know that they are not predetermined by your gender or sexual preference. You should think of these two energies as yin and yang. We each have our makeup of these energies and they should balance out, but if they don’t, that’s ok too. Masculinity is linear, logical, analytical, uses force, and is results-oriented. Femininity is cyclical, nurturing, intuitive, uses flow, and is process-oriented.
“The world we live in is set up to support the masculine. It’s not designed to support the feminine.”
Kate Northrup, Author of "Do Less : A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women"Check it out
According to Alisa Vitti, both men and women are cyclical by nature. It’s just that men operate on a 24-hour cycle while women operate on a 28-day cycle during our reproductive years. Which, when you think about it, makes complete sense! No wonder why there’s this societal pressure to show up every day and maximize our 24 hours. Clearly, this way of thinking is not in alignment with the power of going with your flow. Given that your menstrual cycle operates on a 28-day rotation, not a 24-hour one.
Understanding the Menstrual Cycle
There are four phases of the menstrual cycle. They are menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases. If you don’t pay attention, you can miss the magic that comes with truly understanding each phase and how you can use them to your advantage. Think about it. Do you know how empowered you'd feel if you could better control your life by understanding your body and planning how you show up for work, your business, or at home? Before you embark on using your inner magic, let’s better understand each phase in the menstrual cycle.
The Menstrual Cycle
Menstruation (Days 1-5): This phase marks the beginning of the menstrual cycle, characterized by the shedding of the uterine lining. Hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are at their lowest, leading to symptoms such as menstrual cramps and fatigue.
Follicular Phase (Days 6-14): During this phase, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) prompts the development of ovarian follicles, each containing an immature egg. Estrogen levels gradually rise, leading to increased energy and a sense of renewal. Ovulation typically occurs around the midpoint of this phase.
Ovulation (Day 14): Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube, making it available for fertilization. Estrogen levels peak just before ovulation, along with a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). This phase is associated with heightened energy and libido.
Luteal Phase (Days 15-28): Following ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. Progesterone levels rise, along with estrogen, preparing the uterine lining for the potential implantation of a fertilized egg. If fertilization doesn't occur, hormone levels drop towards the end of this phase. This can lead to premenstrual symptoms like mood swings and fatigue.
As you go through each phase, you could be using these hormonal changes to optimize your productivity. Or as Kate Northrup explains, do less and not only be but also have more. Pretty cool, right?
“When we honor the distinct and uniquely useful phases of our bodies, the moon, and our creativity, we get further, faster without having to push as hard."
Kate Northrup, Author of "Do Less : A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women"check it out
Optimizing Your Time & Energy with Cycle Syncing
Now that you understand the menstrual cycle and all of its phases, there are things that you can do to optimize the way you plan, brainstorm, create, and execute with your flow. Cycle Syncing is the act of tailoring the way you eat, exercise, and work (if you can) to the phases of your menstrual cycle.
It’s clear that life stops for no one, and some duties, tasks, and timing are out of our control. But I encourage you to focus on what you can control. I’m telling you, it works! I’ve been doing this for the last couple of months and I’ve made more progress on my novel than I did in the last four years. In fact, after taking over a year off from blogging, I buckled down planned, brainstormed, and tackled this lovely post during the second day of my follicular phase. You see me!
I also feel so much more calm and relaxed. I don’t get the Sunday Scaries or stress about my never-ending to-do list. In fact, I've stopped making daily to-do lists altogether and instead use my Sunday to make a weekly to-do list which of love. I try my best to keep my tasks at no more than five and adjust depending on how I feel and what phase I am in. This is all while giving myself permission to enjoy the rest my body needs, without all the guilt. You can have that sense of freedom too, girlfriend. It just takes a little intention and effort on your part.
Steps to Start Cycle Syncing
Track your cycle and familiarize yourself with your menstrual phases. You can do this with either a simple notebook or cycle tracking app. I went the mobile route and use the My Flo Cycle Syncing Tracker. I love it because food, exercise, and work plans around my cycle make great suggestions.
Change your mindset. Give yourself permission to slow down and do less. Instead, of busying yourself with meaningless tasks and projects, find ways to take less off your plate. Ask for help, delegate, and say NO. Your value is not tied to what you produce.
Prioritize and focus. Being a Jill of all trades is nice, but you don't have to do all the things. I challenge you to prioritize the small valuable few, over many. Get clear on your big picture, and always strive for quality, not quantity.
Move with intention. As I mentioned above, before I do anything, I tune in with myself and my body. I listen to her, ask her what she needs, and I honor her. This shapes how I set my intentions for the week ahead and how I make my plans. I encourage you to try it.
Additional Resources
Here are some additional items you can check out to help you kickstart your cycle-syncing journey:
Books
Cycle Tracking Apps
Journals
For my traditional pen and paper girlies that like to write these things down, here are some journals to check out!
Period Tracker: PMS Tracker | Menstrual Cycle Journal
Cycles Period Tracker & Gratitude Journal
Period Tracker: Menstrual Cycle Journal in Aesthetic Minimalist Style
Conclusion
I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned in my exploration of menstrual cycle optimization is that balance is key! And right now, it’s important that I remain fluid and work with all the tools that I’ve got, including my female productivity rotations.
In a world that often glorifies constant hustle and productivity, the idea of embracing the natural rhythms of our bodies might seem counterintuitive. However, as you've explored, there's immense power in understanding and harnessing the fluctuations of the menstrual cycle to optimize your lives. Whether you're a busy professional, an entrepreneur, or simply someone looking to make the most out of each day, you can unlock a new level of productivity, well-being, and empowerment by cycle syncing. Don't fight with your body, work with it and leverage the ebb and flow of your hormones to your advantage.
Through cycle syncing, you can gain a deeper connection to yourself, your body, and your needs. Cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness, self-compassion, and resilience as you navigate the ups and downs of your monthly rhythms. I encourage you to embrace the power of the menstrual cycle, not only as a tool for productivity but also as a pathway to holistic health, self-care, and empowerment. Here's to living in harmony with our bodies and embracing the beautiful dance of our menstrual cycles. Go with your flow, sis!
Disclaimer
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