How tracking my cycle has changed the way I work
Your monthly cycle is so much more than THAT time of the month, it is the secret to creativity and productivity.
“Why is life so hard? Why do I not have a single great idea? Why am I terrified of presenting my work, when last week I could take the world by storm?”. These are just some of my thoughts and feelings that I routinely experience around day 21 of my monthly cycle, and if you’re a woman, you can probably resonate. The reassuring thing is this is totally normal. This period of our monthly cycle is called our inner autumn, luteal or premenstrual phase, where our energy levels are naturally dropping and we can shift into a bit of an analytical mindset, often experiencing a visit from our inner critic too. But, the great news is, that if we know it’s coming, we can plan for it too — supporting ourselves over shaming ourselves.
As cyclical beings, our brain chemistry changes by up to a massive 25% throughout the month. YES, 25%. And if that’s just our brain, then think about how the rest of our body responds with changes too. As soon as I started tracking my cycle, I began noticing huge patterns, from energy levels and mood to appetite and sleep. By tuning into my natural ebbs and flows, I’ve learned how to support myself throughout the month — recognising the times when I am at my most creative, vivacious and when I just need to hide away from the world and rest. And it’s not just me that this knowledge benefits. If you start to track yours then friends, partners, and colleagues (and pretty much anyone else you come into contact with) will benefit from you being more connected to your cycle. It’s a ripple effect.
Our monthly cycle is a natural flow and actually pretty simple to get your head around, but when it came to education around women’s health, this is where we have been let down. We are taught that a monthly cycle is centered on THAT time of the month, a time when we should expect to want to fuel our bodies with chocolate, lie on the sofa with a hot water bottle and learn to discretely hide a tampon up our sleeve. The truth about our cycles is that it isn’t just about that time of the month, but about those times of the month, as there are strengths in every single phase of our cycle. Strengths in every single day. This is why I’m so passionate to share this wisdom now, it’s time for a reeducation….
By observing your body and reconnecting with your cycle, it’s possible to track the times of your month when you are naturally more productive, creative, and sociable. It is possible to predict when you’re at your most confident or when you need to rest. So, when it comes to work, leaning into your cycle can support yourself and your colleagues with workload and planning to suit your strengths, including harnessing your natural productivity, creativity and analytical mind. Think about the time when you will be most visionary, and plan your quarterly goal-setting session around that, when you will be more reflective and analytical, plan to conduct reviews, and if you need to organise a meeting where you smash down doors and inspire direction, when will you feel at your most confident and comfortable to share your voice?
To make it easier to understand I’ve created a diagram with some examples of how to work with your natural strengths when it comes to work. And the best news is this power is accessible to every woman, whether you bleed or not. We all have a unique cycle, which is why it’s so important you get to know yours. Sidenote: there is no perfect cycle!
Tracking your cycle, being open with colleagues and creating a schedule that supports the whole team is the only way forward. This approach is where productivity meets compassion. I now plan my months to suit my cycle and my mind and body are grateful for it, as well as my clients and anyone I work with. Learning to work with your cycle can change your life and the life of those around you, from family and friends to colleagues. What are you waiting for?
Let’s work smarter, not harder.
If you’d like to find out more and have a free chat, book a free discovery call here or you can subscribe to my mailing list here. Head over to my website for more info and access to the following resources:
1/ Download my FREE cycle tracker here
2/ Book a workshop for you and your team
3/ Buy my Soulful Cycle Box, a self-care box to educate and empower women to lean into every day of their cycle to change the way they live.
4/ Follow me on Instagram here