Tracking your menstrual cycle is a powerful way to connect with your body, understand your energy patterns, and support your creativity.
Whether you're a pen-and-paper person or a fan of apps, this practice can help you uncover insights about yourself and make informed decisions about your health, energy, and creative process.
Why Track Your Cycle
Tracking your cycle isn’t just about monitoring symptoms like cramps or fatigue. It’s about celebrating the good stuff, too! the times when you feel energized, inspired, or deeply intuitive.
Understanding these patterns allows you to align your activities with your natural rhythms, enhancing productivity and creativity while reducing stress.
It empowers you to:
Schedule demanding tasks: Plan high-energy activities for your follicular and ovulation phases when you're feeling focused and productive. Reserve low-energy tasks for the premenstrual and menstrual phases when you might crave rest and introspection.
Optimize your workouts: Align your exercise routine with your cycle. During high-energy phases, you can push yourself with more vigorous workouts. In low-energy phases, focus on gentler activities like yoga or walking.
Embrace self-care: Recognize when your body and mind crave self-nurturing. Schedule relaxing baths, meditation sessions, or creative pursuits during the premenstrual and menstrual phases.
Apps vs. Pen and Paper
There are numerous menstrual tracking apps available, each with its own features. However, some women find pen-and-paper tracking to be more intuitive and expressive. Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of each method:
Apps
Pros: Convenient, data storage, some offer additional features like symptom tracking and mood logging.
Cons: Can be limiting, some require a subscription fee.
Pen and Paper
Pros: Customizable, allows for creative expression, readily available.
Cons: Requires manual data entry, less portable.
Ultimately, the best method is the one that works best for you. Experiment with both and see which one resonates more.
Recommended Apps
Here are a few highly-rated menstrual tracking apps to consider:
Clue & Flo: comprehensive tracking for symptoms, moods, and other health metrics.
Bell: an Australian app offering unique tracking features.
Stardust: combines menstrual cycle tracking with moon phase insights for a holistic approach.
These apps not only allow you to track your cycle but also take into account moon phases, which can influence your energy levels.
In fact your menstrual cycle closely aligns with the moon cycle, with each phase mirroring the hormonal fluctuations we experience. Here's a brief overview:
Waxing Moon (Follicular Phase): A time of growth, initiating new projects, and increasing energy levels.
Full Moon (Ovulation Phase): A time of peak energy, confidence, and heightened creativity.
Waning Moon (Luteal Phase): A time of inward reflection, emotional processing, and releasing what no longer serves you.
New Moon (Menstrual Phase): A time of rest, rejuvenation, and setting intentions for the new cycle.
By becoming aware of the moon phases, you can gain a deeper understanding of your natural rhythms and align your activities accordingly.
Heidi emphazises the importance of the foundational health in managing energy levels during our cycles, like:
Eat fresh, whole foods.
Hydration is KEY! Drinking plenty of water is crucial throughout your cycle, but especially important during the premenstrual and menstrual phases to combat bloating.
Get plenty of sleep and sunshine.
Once you’ve mastered your basics, you can explore specific needs like increasing iron intake during heavy periods or syncing your meals and workouts with your energy levels.
Here are a few initial tips from Heidi for your exercises:
Move Intuitively: Listen to your body's cues. If you're feeling energetic, embrace movement. If you need rest, prioritize sleep and relaxation.
Find Activities You Enjoy: Experiment with different exercises to discover what feels good in each phase.
Move Even on Low-Energy Days: Gentle movement like walking or stretching can improve circulation and mood, even on low-energy days.
And much like the menstrual phases, creativity also follows its own cycle!
Preparation (Follicular Phase): Research, gather ideas, and explore possibilities.
Incubation (Luteal Phase): Allow ideas to percolate without forcing action—similar to an "inner autumn."
Illumination (Ovulation Phase): Embrace those “aha” moments of clarity and inspiration.
Evaluation (Luteal Phase): Edit and refine your ideas, cutting away what’s unnecessary.
Implementation (Follicular Phase): Showcase your work to the world with confidence and energy.
Understanding these parallels can foster self-compassion and patience during the creative process, helping you trust and flow with your unique rhythm.
Heidi offers tools to help people embrace their cycles, including a free Facebook group for premenstrual support and the Menstrual Moods Journal, designed to track both symptoms and strengths while overcoming the inner critic.
Find her resources and connect via Instagram at @heidihogarth_naturopath or her website at https://heidihogarth.com.au/
I hope this post gave you a valuable insight in your cycle and useful tips to take advantage of it! Let me know in the comments your thoughts and experiences and as always..
Stay Curious, Stay Inspired.
Your Creative Friend,
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have concerns about your menstrual cycle or are experiencing severe PMS or PMDD, please consult with a healthcare professional.
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