Time of the month…all the time

Period powered productivity

My mum always says periods are not the end of the world…but it really does feel like it sometimes. After years of painful periods, having to take days off school and work, I’m finally understanding how to work around it. Between uni deadlines and a job that doesn’t wait for me to feel my best, it is so important to learn how to make my cycle work for me. Of course, I am no doctor, this advice is just how I schedule my time before, after and during my period.

A week before

You should be tracking your period to know generally when it is coming up. A common misconception is that our period is every month, it is actually every 28 days. Sometimes it might feel like you were on at the beginning and at the end of the month, that’s just because your cycle is 28 days, not 30, not 31, 28. Using apps to track is always useful, but a good old paper calendar also works.

Now that that is cleared up, a week before is usually when I start to get symptoms of the start of my next cycle. I call this the “get ready to stop” week. If I have upcoming deadlines for the next week, I will make sure to get it done in this week before my body starts to shut down (at least that’s what it feels like).

I might start to feel a little more tired than usual during this week, so I make sure to recognise the signs so I’m not beating myself up. Being aware and keeping track of your behaviours, stress levels and productivity during your cycle is key to knowing how to manage your time. I also noticed that my skin isn’t at its best the week before, so I wouldn’t plan to film content this week if I don’t have to.

To try and manage the looming pain, I try to do some at-home workouts since I noticed when I workout, the pain isn’t as bad. I also start drinking cranberry juice and make sure I have things for herbal teas that always help such as hibiscus and parsley.

During

I just need 5 days to myself, then I’m good to go. I am someone who struggles to allow myself to rest sometimes, it feels like there is always something to do. One way I have learnt to incorporate rest in my overall lifestyle is by blocking out about 3–5 days when I am on my period. Our bodies are slowing down for a reason, we have certain cravings, we are literally in pain – yet we struggle to give ourselves grace to chill out for a bit. Prioritising rest during this time is a must.

But, in order to have these five days, I have to put systems in place. If I want to really relax during this week, with no prior commitments, the only way I can block out this week is by remaining really disciplined the week before. There are some times where I might be really tired the week before, but I remind myself that I’d rather be tired and get the work done, than be in pain the next week and have to work.

Another thing is, when I am asked to go out with friends, family or work, I check my period calendar. I just know how antisocial I am on my period, so I won’t arrange social engagements at that time just to cancel last minute.

That’s not just for in-person socialising, also being online can feel like a lot too. We can be quite sensitive during this time of the month, so I try to cut out things that will heighten unnecessary emotions. Instead, I replace that with a cute chick flick, a good book or just good old sleep – it is ultimate me time.

A week after

The cycle doesn’t end – the cycle continues every single day until you hit menopause (which begins a cycle of its own). This is my personal favourite time of the month. After a week of slow living, I feel refreshed, I have shed my old skin and I am ready to start again.

This is the “let’s gooooooo” week. I plan most of my social engagements this week, I film my content, I write a lot of my uni work – it’s the time to get things done. Everyone’s go time week is different, I know for some people it is the week before that they feel most productive, I am the opposite. Just find out the week that works best for you and plan around that.

The worst thing to do is to ignore your cycle then let it disrupt your idealistic routine. Your routine should include your period and any possible effects it can have. For example, last week I was physically, mentally and emotionally tired from my final project. My deadline is next week, but I knew my period was coming this week. So, regardless of how tired I was last week, I had to push past it to allow myself the grace this week to chill a little even with the deadline around the corner. It would have been irresponsible to take a break last week, knowing I would need one this week.

If this is information you already knew, good on you. Understanding your cycle as much as possible is very key to understanding feminine health. There are of course moments of irregularity when I could get my period early or later from stress, those should also be observed. Including this into my schedule has helped me make the most of my time so you should definitely do the same. Also, remember to subscribe to this blog below via email for updates on new blog posts.