Natural rhythm: What period tracking can teach you about living your best life

Imagine having something close to an instruction manual to understand yourself better. Imagine having the confidence and capacity to enjoy every step of the month by embracing what it has to offer and making concessions right when they are required. Imagine feeling empowered by something that you have been conditioned to stay quiet about.

Two years ago, I stumbled upon a revolutionary concept: understanding our menstrual cycles as seasons. It was a revelation. A lightbulb moment that forever changed how I live my life.

This new perspective clearly showed me something: I wasn't the issue. I wasn't split into two or more versions of myself. Just as the tree with leaves remains the same tree when it stands bare, it simply needs to dig its roots deeper to flourish when the time is right.

In schools, girls receive scant information about their periods, mostly just enough to understand that bleeding is a normal bodily function. But more than half of Irish girls surveyed by Plan International in 2018 were embarrassed by their period. Deeper insights into hormones are typically reserved for those planning to conceive. I vividly recall the rollercoaster of emotions during my own journey trying to get pregnant – the days of counting and peeing on ovulation sticks, the impatient waiting, the tears, and the sadness. Rinse and repeat.

Once I had my kids and didn’t need to pee on a stick anymore, I forgot about it and continued doing business as usual. The vague knowledge of when your period is due, swearing when it arrives, and forgetting as soon as it is gone.

But then, after following my gut instinct that pieces of the puzzle where missing, I discovered period tracking apps like Clue, delved into books like Period Power by Maisie Hill and Optimised Women by Miranda Gray, and explored hormonology. I became very intentional about navigating my life through a period-informed lens.

After all, in the words of the aforementioned Maisie Hill: “A simple act of revolution is to learn about your body, to get to know the terrain of your cycle, and to take charge of your own health.” And I have always liked a bit of revolution.

This transformation didn't just impact me individually; it influenced the way I approached various aspects of my life.

I learned to clear my calendar during weeks when I needed extra rest and filled it with social gatherings during the more socially engaging times. When I can choose, I deliver my trainings on days with high energy flow.

It also impacted the dynamic of my relationships. My husband and I now both understand when he should be more present, when I am my most outgoing and fun self, and when he might risk to be stabbed with a fork if he suggests a golf trip. My kids, too, are learning why some days I need extra rest and why those days the chocolate is mine and mine alone. (A lesson that will prove useful in their lives and relationships.)

The four seasons

I wish women were educated early on, even before their first period, about their seasonal existence. Understanding that our hormones serve a purpose and that we can tap into and maximise each phase is invaluable. Tracking our cycles and aligning our needs and strengths with each season can be a game-changer – a life-changer, even.

Let me give you a little sneak peek and hopefully the hunger to go and explore further. If nothing else, pay attention just this month. Journal about it (even if it’s just one word a day) and let the curiosity sink in.

In this cyclical journey, each phase of the menstrual cycle mirrors the changing seasons. It’s crucial to understand that these analogies don’t diminish the complexity and uniqueness of every one’s unique experience of menstruation. Instead, they offer a framework for us to make this entire process work for us. That is why the real gift is in getting to know yourself deeply.

Winter

This is the menstrual phase. It is time to rest and to care for yourself. Instead of fighting it, embrace it and recharge. Plan your schedule to allow for guilt-free downtime. Soon you will learn that you can trust that you’ll make up for it when your energy returns. For me, winter is now a time to treasure, not dread.

Spring

Spring is the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle, when the world awakens. Your body nurtures the growth of a new ovarian follicle, and the rise in oestrogen lifts your energy, mood and mental acuity. You feel confident, powerful and ready to take risks. This is where the rest of ‘winter’ pays off. We can arrive at this phase ready to go or be wiped out by having fought our need to slow down.

Summer

This is the ovulatory phase, marking the height of fertility, confidence and libido. In your menstrual ‘summer’, you look and feel your best, and your sociability soars. It’s the perfect time to plan social events, work functions or negotiations that require your A-game. This is the fun and light part. Unfortunately, you can’t always stay here but how you nurture your other phases will impact on how much you get out of this one.

Autumn

The season of harvest and reflection aligns with the luteal phase. The uterine lining thickens to nurture a potential embryo, or your body prepares for another cycle. This time is known for mood swings and irritability, but also for creativity and the ability to set boundaries and let go.