TAPPING INTO CYCLICAL LIVING
I was 28 years old when I realised that working Monday-Friday 9-5 just wasn’t for me. Sunday night fear, copious amounts of tea and coffee, and eating half of your lunch by 10:30, is never ideal, but when you’re living with a condition such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), something like going to work can mean the difference between extreme, debilitating symptoms, that end up getting you signed off for two weeks anyway, and managing and getting through.
So what is cyclical living?
Cyclical living is the idea of living in tune with your menstrual cycle and adapting how you spend your time and energy, according to which part of your cycle you are in, and what your body needs. Lots of people who menstruate might not even notice the subtle changes between the ovulatory and the luteal phases, but if you're living with PMDD (or any other condition affected by hormones), then the chances are, you do.
Why can living cyclically be a good thing?
Living in alignment with the natural rhythms of our body is not a new concept, though, the modern world has made it increasingly difficult for those who menstruate to live in tune with the natural ebbs and flows of their cycle. But at a time when it might be harder, the benefits physically and emotionally can be profound
Increased Body Awareness: Paying attention to your menstrual cycle allows a deeper connection with your body, making it easier for you to better recognize and respond to its needs throughout the month.
Better Energy Management: Tailoring your activities and self-care practices to align with your energy levels during different phases of your cycle can mean getting the most of your energy, and enhancing your productivity and well-being.
Heightened Emotional Intelligence: The emotional fluctuations that can accompany the different phases of the menstrual cycle offer great opportunities for self-reflection, which can build our emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
Support for Menstrual Health: Honouring your menstrual cycle involves practicing self-care strategies that support menstrual health, such as eating nourishing foods, having adequate rest, and incorporating stress management techniques. Overall, you can become healthier.
Reduced Menstrual Symptoms: By adopting holistic approaches to menstrual care, such as tweaks to your diet, exercise routines, and general lifestyle, you may experience a reduction in menstrual symptoms such as cramps, bloating, and mood swings (NHS, 2024).
Empowerment and Liberation: Embracing your menstrual cycle as a natural and integral part of your being can help you reclaim a sense of empowerment and liberation from societal taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation.
Connection to Feminine Wisdom: Honouring your cycle can deepen your connection to your inherent feminine wisdom, and nurture a greater sense of self-trust and intuition.
Enhanced Fertility Awareness: Tracking your menstrual cycle can help you gain insights into your fertility patterns, aiding in family planning or conception efforts.
Menstrual cycle 101:
Some Quick Facts:
A menstrual cycle refers to the time between a period starting (i.e. bleeding or menstruating) to the day before the next period.
On average a normal menstrual cycle tends to be between 23 to 35 days.
A period typically lasts for 3-7 days.
The amount of blood passed during a period can range between 20-90 milliliters.
Menstrual cycle phases
In order to live cyclically, we must begin by understanding what each phase of the menstrual cycle looks like, what our hormones are doing, and what that means for our energy, mood, and physical well-being.
For some people, the fluctuations of hormones are felt only very subtly, if at all, so it’s helpful to know what you’re looking out for. Looking at the phases of our menstrual cycle as seasons can help us to understand how our body might respond to our fluctuating hormones.
Peaks and troughs
Levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone are at the lowest at the beginning of the menstrual cycle (during your period).
During the follicular phase (initial two weeks), oestrogen is the dominant hormone, however
post ovulation, progesterone takes over in the luteal phase.
So what does the rise and fall of our hormones mean for our seasons and energy levels?
❄️ Winter beckons us to rest, recharge, and reflect. Think of yourself as like a squirrel, who hibernates during the colder months.
🌱 Spring reminds us of new beginnings and fresh possibilities. It's a time for planting seeds of intention, nurturing our dreams, and allowing them to take root.
☀️ Summer invites us to bask in the warmth of abundance and fulfillment. It’s a time to celebrate our achievements and embrace the opportunities that come our way.
🍂 Autumn gently nudges us to release what no longer serves us. It’s a time to let go of old patterns, shed layers of the past, and prepare for the introspective journey ahead. since.
How to use this knowledge and work with your cycle (in a society that tells you you can’t):
I realise I am beyond lucky to have the freedom to even consider adapting my lifestyle throughout the month - not everyone can do that. I try to think of cyclical living as an approach to strive towards, rather than a goal to pass or fail. And so if a totally cyclical way of living isn’t doable for you, then here are a few tips to help you live more cyclical in a world that doesn’t tend to allow for it.
1 - Know your cycle
It used to be taught that a typical menstrual cycle was around 28 days however only around 13% of those who menstruate have a 28-day cycle, and the NHS now says that anything between 23 to 35 days is normal (NHS, 2024).
Based on a 28-day cycle, ovulation may happen at around day 14, but as we all know, our bodies don’t always do as they’re supposed to, especially if you’re living with a condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). If your cycle length varies from month to month, you can try monitoring your basal body temperature or using ovulation test strips to measure your levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, which will indicate the time of ovulation.
2 - Track your symptoms, feelings, and energy levels
Keep a journal or use an app and get to know the signs from your body as it goes through each phase of the menstrual cycle. The likelihood is, that you’ll get similar symptoms at around the same time each month (if you’re like me, you’ll get a big, juicy spot on your chin just before your period. Nice!). Start asking yourself, what’s my normal?
3 - Work with your cycle
Once you know how your days tend to look throughout your menstrual cycle, you can start to look ahead and make (loose) plans. Using your journal tracker, journal, or app, look at what days you feel your best, physically and emotionally, and what days you tend to struggle. You might like to draw a calendar template (or use the calendar app on your phone), to start penciling in plans for the better days. And look at the harder days - what does your body need from you on those days? How can you make life easier? What tasks can you skip on those days, or delegate to someone else (at work and home)?
4 - Align your menstrual cycle to your calendar
When you start looking ahead to your next cycle, and the plans you already have in place, look at what days of your cycle your plans fall on. It could be the likes of your daughter’s birthday party, a big meeting at work, or a trip to visit family. It might not be realistic to move big plans around to the days when your hormones will make you feel more sociable, and if this is the case, then come up with an action plan - make a note of three things that are going to make life easier for you on those days.
5 - Communicate
Not everyone wants to talk about their period, and that’s absolutely down to personal choice. But do consider letting those closest to you, and those your trust, know which days of your cycle you tend to need a little more support, or less social interaction (you can mark those days on a calendar, if it makes it easier!). Communication is especially important if you’re living with something like PMDD, as it can sometimes be other people who notice your cyclical pattern to your symptoms.
6 - Be kind to yourself (and your body)
The human body is an amazing thing, but it certainly doesn’t run like clockwork. There are always going to be days where you think you’ll feel amazing, but that turns out to be shite. Equally, there may be days when you plan a duvet day and end up being super productive. It’s on these days that it’s important to remember that you’re doing your best and you can only work with what you’re feeling right now. Beating yourself up and getting frustrated when your symptoms aren’t as expected, will only lead to you feeling worse overall - so treating your body with compassion, and meeting yourself where you are, is even more important on these days.
*Remember, always speak to a Doctor if you have any concerns about your hormones, menstrual cycle, or health.
Want to find out more about the power of cyclical living?
Enrol on my course, Nurture, where you'll discover a holistic approach to living in harmony with the seasons of your menstrual cycle, and embracing the ebb and flow that comes with hormones.
Share Your Story
Do you have a story to share? By partnering together, I hope to share a variety of lived experiences related to living with/through hormone or health issues.
