I’ve taken a very long break from talking about cycle-syncing but that in no way means it is not part of my life. To this day, I still get questions about periods and menstrual cycles because, for a while, I was quite vocal about my experiences.
When I started melmakesithappen, some of my largest goals at the time were to slow down, tune into my body more, and regain my period naturally. I guess you can say I achieved those goals and that’s why I stopped talking about cycle-syncing. However, I want to bring you guys an update on what I’ve experienced now over a year and a half of cycle-syncing.
Before we dive in, I just want to clarify what cycle-syncing is for any new readers. It is a lifestyle created by WomanCode author, Alisa Vitti, which revolves around the 4 phases of the monthly cycle. We are often taught about the one week out of the month where we bleed but there is SO MUCH going on in our amazing female bodies besides that bleed week. When we start to tune in to the nuances of our bodies, it becomes evident that there are fluctuations in needs and desires for our personal health and well-being.
As women, our hormones are continuously changing and, consequently, what’s most beneficial in terms of food, exercise, or productivity is changing throughout the month, too.
In the past, I’ve talked a lot about the food aspects of cycle-syncing like: how to start, what it was like to integrate different foods, how my mood and energy were affected—which you can read about in my cycle-syncing posts here. Additionally, I have a post that describes how I got into cycle-syncing after I lost my period and methods that helped me bring it back! Those posts might be worth checking out if you are struggling with period-related discomfort or want to learn more about how to cycle-sync.
Today, however, I will be focusing on the lifestyle parts of cycle-syncing, mostly in terms of productivity and self-care! The information is particularly helpful if you’ve started cycle-syncing food and want to see changes in other areas of your life. The cycle definitely contains some powerful tools to maximize work flow simply by tapping into your natural feminine energies! 😉
The way I like to think of my cycle is systematic in terms of how to channel my fluctuating stream of energy. The first half of a cycle in largely extroverted and leans towards creation and development. Whereas, the second half of a cycle is increasingly introverted and primarily steered towards assessment and reevaluating the actions began in the first half.
That is not to say that a person can’t work on evaluative tasks in the first half of a cycle or what have you. These are simply guidelines from my readings (i.e. WomanCode) and my personal experimentation that has led me to see where my energy is best applied. Keep reading for further elaboration of this unique energy categorized by each of the four cycle phases.
Follicular Phase
The first 7 days following the bleed week are basically a time of renewal and rebirth (no pun intended). I notice that my mind feels so much clearer with each passing day and ideas run rampant. Follicular phase is ideal for planning and starting new habits or projects. Personally, this phase gives me a load of confidence to make a huge list of goals that I seek to accomplish. At the same time, I have to be careful not to be overly-ambitious and attempt to tackle more than reasonably possible.
With a great deal of energy, comes a great potential for exploration.
My physical body is invigorated and my mind is primed for learning! I feel like I just want to grow, take in new ideas, try new things, challenge myself with tasks and physical exercises—and overall just step into my own power. I feel alive and want to apply myself towards self-development and, often, educational types of activities—like listening to podcasts. This phase is one of my favorites because I feel like no idea is too small and no opportunity is too daunting. I want to do it all and that sort of zest for life is exciting stuff!
Ovulatory Phase
A significantly shorter phase than follicular but, undoubtedly, even more energy-filled! As any other woman who tracks her cycle will probably attest to, ovulation is amazing. The benefits extend far beyond peak fertility (for those who are trying to get pregnant) though. I feel better about myself (thanks to those hormones!) and I notice that my physical stamina is at an all-time high. It is near impossible for me to sit still to work on a task so I find myself exercising a lot at this time. I love running, doing cardio intervals, or anything that keeps me moving.
Additionally, social hour is not only appealing but fulfilling. I want to be around people and I feel like I have some of my best conversations at this time. It is apparent to me that my thoughts are clear and able to be formed into coherent sentences—which is not always the case (we’ll get to that). Otherwise, ovulatory phase makes for an excellent time to start tackling the logistics of any ideas developed during the follicular phase and applying them.
Luteal Phase
I personally love the first part of the luteal phase because it combines the high energy from ovulation with the analytical skills this phase is known for. I can easily carry out many of the same actions I pursued during ovulation for the first 7-10 days but I also have a growing patience to sit and work on projects for a longer period of time. It’s the time to settle down and fine tune whatever habits or projects I started earlier in my cycle. Also, the length of a luteal phase will vary from woman to woman but it is often distinguishable by higher energy descending into lower energy.
To put it plainly, luteal phase is all about housekeeping, both literally and figuratively. I find my eyes narrow down on minute details that I may not have noticed before. In work tasks, I can be overtaken by an immense drive to fix a small, technical aspect of my blog or sort through my email inbox. The domestic sphere also becomes very important, as this underlying idea of “preparation” takes root in my brain. I am more inclined to tackle chores to keep my space clean or trek out to 5 different stores to buy some very specific items on my grocery/wish list. It’s a “get things done” attitude.
Despite the motivation to get things in order, the energy expenditure takes a toll and self-care rises in priority. Of course, we should be taking time to do little things for ourselves daily but, during the second half of luteal phase (about 5 days before the period), it feels necessary. My inclination is to tune into myself and get to the bottom of any problems that have been growing in my mind. I won’t describe details too much here but I tap into self-healing modalities (more than usual) like meditating with my crystals, writing in my journal, and simply becoming spiritually aware of myself to better my relationship with myself. Plus, my days are filled with many impromptu foot massages, vinyasa yoga, cups of hot tea, or, if I can make the time, a delicious bath may also happen.
Personally, I always want to make the most out of my days so it can be hard to deal with lower energy and brain fog (which makes it hard for me to form a coherent thought!) or other occasional premenstrual symptoms*. So, I take those signs as forced incentive to shut down my laptop and take things easy. It is okay to push myself but I also try to recognize when a little Netflix and chill will suit my energy needs better. Self-care doesn’t need to be anything fancy; it just needs to feel good.
*Something I mentioned that I want to address is premenstrual symptoms. Mine are occasional but that is only a result of long-term cycle-syncing and learning to treat my body well throughout—especially the earlier part of—my cycle (i.e. keep stress to a minimum, eat nourishing food to keep my blood sugar and adrenals stable, etc). I notice when I eat processed food or pursue endeavors that don’t support my emotional and physical well-being, they catch up with me and hit me hard during menstruation.
Menstrual Phase
As I’ve been cycle-syncing for a while, I can sense the approach of my period without even looking at a calendar. Naturally, I’ll continue the lighter movement and less stimulating activities that I took up towards the end of the luteal phase. The way I view the menstrual phase is as a sort of culmination of everything that I have been working on and everything that I have been going through now catches up to me.
Being on my period doesn’t necessarily equal sleep-all-day, low energy like societal stigmas may suggest. At times, I feel restless and even eager to move into more productive activities but my body and mind are not always synced. This is when it becomes crucial to listen to individual needs which will change month to month. Emotions and sensations are also heightened so, at this time, I try to respect my body’s process and tap into the unique wisdom it has to offer.
This phase can feel like coming up for air after being stuck underwater for so long. It can also feel like a punch in the gut if you have neglected your listening to your intuition all month. Nonetheless, both scenarios and everything in between is refreshing.
I am more attuned to recognize things that I need to let go of…whether that be people, habits, or ideas about my self-worth. It helps to dedicate time to self-evaluation and the self-healing modalities I mentioned earlier because this is where insight about what next steps to take or messages of inspiration presents itself.
While I wrote much of the cycle phase break downs from my perspective, I do feel quite aligned with the cycle-syncing lifestyle. The thoughts and challenges that I face are not what you will face during your cycle but I am willing to bet they may feel very similar.
If you are a woman, or know a woman who can benefit from this post, I hope it helps you consider the idea of tuning into your cycle. It is free; it doesn’t require much except a slight alteration of activities to make the most of your fluctuating energy. I admit, it has taken me some time to reach this place but I feel like I am better able to tap into my power, utilize my skills, and accomplish that which I desire because of cycle-syncing.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments or send me an email/DM and I’d be glad to chat with you.
Lastly, cycle-syncing is the creation of Alisa Vitti, the author of WomanCode and floliving.com. I’m not being paid to endorse cycle-syncing but much of my education on the subject has come from reading WomanCode. All experiences outlined in this post are my own.