Raise your hand if you have ever felt like you are on a never-ending treadmill, constantly chasing after the next deadline, goal, or accomplishment. Raise your hand if you have ever felt like there is never enough time to get everything done and you are always fighting just to keep up. If your hand is raised like mine is, this is because we live in a world where the pace is often set by a masculine-driven ethos, where hustle culture is glorified, and slowing down is often viewed as a sign of weakness. Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for setting goals and accomplishing big things, but what if I told you that there's a way to live that allows you to step off the never-ending treadmill AND that helps you accomplish more?
First, it’s important to understand that as women, we're wired differently than men because we have a menstrual cycle. If you have a period, this means you have a menstrual cycle. Contrary to what we have been brought up believing, our menstrual cycle isn’t just when we get our period. It’s a month-long process in which our bodies go through some pretty big hormonal ebbs and flows. These hormonal ebbs and flows are responsible for everything that we experience as women from our energy levels, stress, emotions, libido, appetite, and so much more. Men, on the other hand, have a 24-hour hormonal cycle. This means that their hormones reset like clockwork every 24 hours. You can think of men as being like the sun; their hormones rise and fall every day with very little variance. Women are more like the moon; our hormones are waxing and waning over an entire month.
As women, when we try to force ourselves to keep up with the relentless pace of the male hormonal clock, we're essentially working against our own biology. And guess what? It's a recipe for burnout, exhaustion, and feeling totally out of sync with ourselves. On the contrary, when we live in the flow of our natural biology, this is when we can accomplish so much more without having to fear exhaustion and burnout.
When I started working and living in the flow with my menstrual cycle instead of forcing myself to stay on the never-ending treadmill, my entire life changed for the better in more ways than I can ever describe. Life started to feel so much easier, I started tapping into deeper levels of creativity, I had far more energy, and I felt a deeper sense of purpose. Not to mention, I healed my period pain. For the first time in my life, I started to fall in love with being a woman and learned that my cycle is actually my superpower.
Every phase of our menstrual cycle comes with its own set of gifts that when tapped into, allow us to make the most out of our lives. Not only are our hormones shifting, but our brain composition is changing as well. Trust me when I say that the female body truly is incredible!
Here's an example of some of the things that are shifting in each of the phases of your cycle and how you can leverage these shifts to your advantage.
Phase 1: Menstrual AKA Rest and Recharge (Days 1-7): This phase of your cycle is all about recharging your battery. When your phone dies, you put it on the charger. When your car is low on gas, you fuel it back up. They need recharge time in order to function and your body is no different. As we all know, our period isn’t exactly a walk in the park and our bodies are doing some serious work during this phase. This is why it’s so important to give it the rest and care it deserves. If you try to keep going at a high speed during this phase, this is the most surefire way to experience exhaustion. The absolute best thing you can do for yourself during this phase is to keep your schedule as light as possible so that you can recharge and nurture yourself. I promise this is going to set you up for future success because in the next phase…
Phase 2: Follicular AKA A Fresh Start (Days 8-14): Your hormone levels are on the rise which means your energy levels will start to pick up. In this phase of your cycle, your brain composition shifts so that you are primed to take on new projects, have new experiences, and pursue creative endeavors. This is an amazing phase to start tackling new projects or dive into ones you've been putting off. This is also a great phase to introduce new habits since your brain is primed to embrace new activities. This phase is all about capitalizing on the increasing energy and creativity that you are experiencing.
Phase 3: Ovulation AKA “Go-Getter Mode” (Days 15-17): Welcome to your powerhouse days! You may feel a little bit like superwoman during this phase because your hormones and your energy levels are peaking. Additionally, your brain composition shifts and enhances your ability to verbally communicate. This is a great time of your cycle to schedule important meetings, give presentations, and/or attend/plan social gatherings. You will also notice your confidence is higher and you feel more charismatic, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there and make things happen! A word to the wise; during this phase, you may be inclined to say yes to anything that comes your way because you have so much energy. However, in the next two phases your energy levels will massively decrease, so be mindful of what you say yes to so that you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed and burnt out later on in your cycle. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
Phase 4: Luteal AKA Grounded and Centered (Days 18-28): As your cycle starts winding back down, you will notice your energy levels starting to taper off because your hormone levels are dropping. While the last two phases of your cycle were all about going full steam ahead, this phase is all about taking your foot off of the gas. Your brain composition shifts again in this phase and primes you for taking on more detail-oriented activities. This is a perfect time to break tasks into smaller chunks and tackle them one step at a time. Focus on activities that require more organizing or diving into more complex projects. For me, this is my “hunker down” phase. I always reserve my bigger admin tasks and things that don’t require my interaction with other people for this phase.
Living in alignment with our menstrual cycle really is about learning to "work" smarter vs harder so that life can feel more joyful and effortless. We can still accomplish all the "big things", but just in a way that leaves us feeling excited instead of exhausted. For example, it will feel a lot harder to host a big party in your late luteal phase when your energy levels are going to be super low. But if you host that big party in your ovulation phase when your hormones and energy levels are high, it will be an absolute joy! It's the same situation, but your experience will be completely different depending on when it falls in your cycle.
Living in alignment with our menstrual cycle really is about learning to "work" smarter vs harder so that life can feel more joyful and effortless.
Our menstrual cycle truly is like a secret stash of superpowers just waiting to be uncovered. When we fully embrace the natural rhythm of our bodies, we unlock this treasure trove of energy and potential that's been there all along. From the cozy recharge of our period to the burst of creativity in the follicular phase, the unstoppable confidence of ovulation, and the laser-focused determination of the luteal phase, our bodies guide us through this incredible journey of self-discovery and accomplishment.
When we honor our menstrual rhythm, we tap into a wellspring of vitality and purpose, transforming not only our productivity but our entire experience of womanhood.
>
Meet the expert:
Jessica Mckasson is a Certified Hormone Specialist who specializes in helping women harness the power of their menstrual cycle, reconnect with their sexuality, and tap into their feminine power so that they can live their most radiant and pleasure-filled lives. Jessica is a Certified Coach, Author, and retreat facilitator who has helped women from around the world unleash their true potential.
Dive deeper into her wealth of knowledge:
Follow:
Comments