Growing up, our period was something we were conditioned to not talk about, under no circumstances. Something to hide. Something that would make us appear weak. The 80s brought feminism forward. Power dressing; becoming as effective as a male competitor was the only way to move up the career ladder. But what if forty years later, the post-me too-movement, connecting to our cycle, could be a life-changing experience?
Almost all studies are performed on men or women pre-menopause. What science has claimed to be true is now questioned. Our cycle is a recurring rhythm that influences our food cravings and everything.
Follicular Phase (7-10 Days) – Creativity and Planning
The first phase in our cycle is named the follicular phase. It represents preparation. When estrogen is on the rise or creativity is lighted up. According to Frontiers in Science, our memory capability is boosted, and the ability to handle complex problems is heightened. It’s the time to dream big, be curious and set our intentions for the month ahead.
Since our energy begins to rise, it’s an excellent time to practice cardio, such as running, biking or dancing.
Ovulation Phase (3-4 Days) – Communication and Collaboration
Estrogen is at its highest, setting our brains up for communication and collaboration. According to a study in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, our synaptic connections are increased, boosting mental sharpness. It’s the perfect time to schedule meetings and have meaningful conversations.
The high concentration of estrogen and testosterone makes it the perfect time to practice intense workouts, such as HIIT, kickboxing or interval sprints.
Luteal Phase (10-14 Days) – Completion, Nurturing and Tending Progesterone is at its highest point. It’s the time when our energy begins to focus and turn inwards. Increasing the natural desire to get things completed. The particular ratio of estrogen and progesterone combined makes us notice details around us that we might have missed before. On the other side, it’s good to try slowing down networking to avoid feeling exhausted and focus on finishing the work and activities that bring pleasure. For the first few days, the energy level is still very high. Making it an excellent time for strength training. In the second half of the luteal phase, it’s better to focus on workouts that focus on flexibility, such as pilates or barre.
Menstrual Phase (3-7 Days) – Evaluation, Analysis, and Intuition
All of your hormones are at a low point. So it’s the perfect opportunity to evaluate and connect to our intuition. Reflect on the past month and be kind to yourselves. These days the right and left hemispheres of the brain are the most connected, making it much easier to hear our intuition. Sometimes we just need a little more rest to realize that we want a more significant change in life.
Any high-intensity workouts will backfire. It’s essential to engage in activities that feel restorative. Great examples are yin yoga, walking and breath work.
It’s time to embrace our feminine energy in the workplace: intuition, empathy and collaboration.