So many women hate that “time of the month." Maybe they have good reason to: heavy periods, painful periods or PMS, which, just as a quick side note are not normal, although common. If you have any of these, this is a sign of an underlying imbalance, inflammation or structural issues, which can be improved with lifestyle changes.
However, there are many ways you can improve your periods and look forward to your next period. Here are a few things you can do:
1. Ditch The Disposables
Unless you are wearing organic, unbleached, unscented sanitary products, you are inserting or placing products containing dioxins, rayon and other substances next to some very sensitive and highly absorbent skin. Even more frustrating; many companies do not publish what the ingredients are in their products, so it is difficult to know what is going into your body.
Switching to organic, unbleached and unscented disposables, or re-usable products such as menstrual cups and cloth pads, can make a huge difference in comfort and uncomfortable menstrual symptoms in some women. It is worth experimenting to see what suits you best and there has never been a better time. There are so many options out there and websites that cater to various alternatives.
2. Understand Your Hormones
Today, we seem to think that we have to push through the fatigue that we often get in the early days of our period. However, this is where we misunderstand our hormones. Your period is triggered by the drop in progesterone. Oestrogen also drops at this time, and as a result of falling off this hormonal cliff, your energy levels are going to be low during your period.
Does mean that women are less productive than men? Absolutely not. We actually have far more energy and have the capacity to over perform around ovulation when our oestrogen and testosterone levels are at their peak so it tends to average out.
So what can you do about your period? Try and cut down on all unnecessary activities during this time. Can you schedule meetings at a different time? Around ovulation is a great time to schedule meetings and high energy projects, as your energy is high and so are your confidence and your ability to express yourself.
Prepare what you can in advance: prepare meals, get food and toilet roll in, ask for help from family and friends and offer to help them in return during their periods of fatigue. Most important of all, listen to what your body is telling you. If your body is telling you to rest, don’t feel guilty for doing so when you can.
Just a quick note, there are many ways of syncing your lifestyle with your cycle as it ebbs and flows. You can read about exercising at different times in your cycle in this post.
3. Get Some Quality Self Care Time
This is a time where you want to hibernate and recuperate. Even if you are normally too busy to look after yourself, this is a great time to fit something in.
Consider booking a massage or a pedicure, spending some quality time with your girl friends, or curling up to a good movie or book. Whether it is meditation, restorative yoga or even, just a bath, taking time to rest, relax and switch off is so important.
4. Get Journalling
This is a great time to look inwards and reflect on events and situations that have occurred in the last month. Especially as the hormonal filters are no longer there. (We normally see things in an optimistic light in the first half of our cycle, and I think we all know what happens if we get PMS). Journalling may sound cheesy, but it really helps you to get out the frustrations, acknowledge the celebrations and help you refocus one what is important to you.
You can do unstructured journalling and just set a timer or get one of the many journalling books to get ideas on writing exercises.
Don’t want to do journalling? This is the ultimate time for meditation, arts or crafts. Whether it is knitting, baking, colouring in or doing a guided meditation, embrace what feels good.
5. Embrace The (Right Kind Of) Chocolate
Ever wondered about those chocolate cravings? Dark chocolate (around 90% cocoa) is actually a rich source of magnesium. And when you consider some period pain and cramp is caused my low magnesium levels, it makes sense our body is telling us to consume more.
But there are some guidelines if you don’t want to upset your hormones. Stick to very dark, organic chocolate (around 80% cocoa), or cacao with a low sugar content. And try not to go overboard, a few squares a day should be enough.
So there you have it, five ways to make your period more enjoyable. I would love to hear about what you do to make your periods more fun.