Go with the flow: How to sync (and get the most out of) your cycle
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For as long as I can remember, periods have been a topic firmly labelled as “taboo” when it comes to office chit-chat.
Declaring you had period cramps to your colleagues often felt as though it may as well be in the same category as announcing you had a fungal infection, and would most likely be met with uncomfortable stares or a “too much information” roll of the eyes.
Even in school, if you were unlucky enough to get your period for the first time in class, a sense of shame clouded that significant moment: the teacher hustling you out of the classroom, a pad or tampon in your pocket, walking past the sniggering boys at the front.
Whatever the environment, it’s become the norm that we are left to effectively suffer in silence and “get on with it,” no matter how low our energy or painful the cramps. But the fact is our hormonal cycle plays a huge part in how we work, socialise and live in general.
This is where cycle syncing comes in. A relatively new concept that has been thrust into the spotlight in recent years, cycle syncing means adapting your exercise routine, social calendar, diet and even important work engagements to the different phases of your monthly menstrual cycle.
Christie Flora, a time trainer and goal strategist at Florandorder, has been working with an increasing number of clients on menstrual cycle awareness and cycle calendaring. She says by leaning into our cyclical nature, we can be more empathetic and understanding of when our bodies need more rest and create space in our lives to do so.
“Psychologically repressing our periods and pretending that they don’t happen can have a negative impact on our well-being,” says Christie.
“Once my clients have tracked a few cycles, they’re able to predict when their energy, motivation, and confidence is likely to be higher and make plans to utilise that energy to move them towards their goals. This makes it possible to embrace and understand the optimal times of their cycle for the key tasks in their work. This makes taking action feel so much easier.”
Milina Opsenica, who is behind period education business Blooming Periods, says she wanted to create a space of empowerment through her business and workshops.
“[Before my daughters were born], periods had not been a conversation in my household, and I knew I had to change that,” she says.
“I made the conscious decision to normalise periods and other conversations in my own home, which was really difficult to start with, but I didn’t want my own daughters growing up not knowing what was going on in their bodies, feeling shame around periods (and therefore their body), and not realising the power that our menstrual cycle holds if we know how to tune into it.
“Our menstrual cycle can be a great asset at work, and if more women knew this, watch out world!”
So how can you start cycle syncing? We asked Milina and Christie to break down the different cycles and how you can use them to your advantage at work and beyond.
Cycles
Follicular phase (inner spring)
This is after we have stopped bleeding, around days 6-12, and is also called our initiation phase. “This is an ideal time to make those big decisions,” says Christie.
This is the best time to:
- Brainstorm
- Research
- Try new things
- Take courses
- Clarify your vision and get new projects off the ground
- Plan – fill in your diary with what you want to accomplish in the coming weeks
- Exercise-wise, this phase is great for strength training and high intensity cardio
Ovulation phase (inner summer)
This is around days 13-19 as we are ovulating, and is our growth phase, so we are “naturally outgoing and productive,” says Milina.
This is the best time to:
- Socialise, pitch ideas and be seen
- Attend networking events
- Collaborate with others
- Schedule dates and meetings
- Go to lunch with girlfriends and connect with others
- Have important conversations (ask for that pay rise!)
Luteal phase (inner autumn)
This phase is at around days 20-29, and is our completion phase. “This is where we should be getting things finished and ready for evaluation,” says Milina. “It’s also a time where we need to go easy on ourselves too. This can be a phase where we can have a lot of self-doubt come in, so be sure to delegate a bit more here, and give yourself some grace. You don’t need to be doing all the things for everybody.”
This is the best time to:
- Nurture and tend to your creative projects
- Review contracts, documents or financial reports
- Wrap up projects and get the things you’ve been putting off done
- Declutter (whether it’s physical, digital, emotional or anything that is holding you back, time to let go)
- Complete admin tasks, tie up loose ends, home and finances
- Celebrate yourself!
Menstrual phase (inner winter)
Around days 1-6, this is a rest phase and a good time to revaluate, says Christie. “This is a time to be really kind and nurturing to yourself.”
This is the best time to:
- Relax and reflect on the past month – think about if there is anywhere that needs attention
- Try gentle exercise, such as yoga
- Practice self-care – indulge in a movie or pamper session
- Rest, and don’t feel guilty doing it. “Certainly when we are about to bleed and then bleeding, a slowness can come over our bodies, and we can lean into that. It’s really important to tune into our bodies and learn to listen to when it’s telling you to go easy on it,” says Milina.
Changing the narrative
If we want equality, menstruation needs to be part of the office conversation, says Milina.
“Employers can start with simple things like making period products available for free in the toilets,” she says.
“This may seem trivial, and for some even unnecessary, but it’s the simple notion of normalising periods. I don’t see this as any different to supplying toilet paper, soap, or even tea, coffee and biscuits. The simple fact that each female employer is likely bleeding five days of each month (or even more), is normal. Even today, women are still feeling shame about carrying a tampon to the toilet. Having these products in the toilets, helps take that shame away and helps employees feel supported by their organisations.”
Adds Christie: “Since the traditional workplace was set up to support a 24-hour (male) cycle, not a 28-day cycle, it wasn’t something that companies had to talk about. Till now.”
“Logically, there shouldn’t be any shame or stigma attached to menstruation. It’s a part of life. But speaking about it openly in all arenas is something that takes practice and courage.”
