Episode 110 - Things I wouldn't do, now that I know about my cycle

Last week, we were talking about how once you learn certain things about your hormones, you can't unlearn them. Once you know, you have an opportunity to do better.

Following on from that episode, I want to share with you some of the things I wouldn't do now that I know what I know about my cycle and hormones.

I wouldn't push through the limits of my energy

I've shared my story of being in the corporate world, getting burnt out, and having to keep pushing through because there was no other option. That's one of the reasons I started my business. But I've learned where the edges are, where I can push a little bit more and where I can't. I know when I need to rest, and I wouldn't push through the limits of my energy ever again. I've learned the importance of rest, time away from my phone, time away from my business, and how valuable that can be.

I wouldn't deny my body's need to rest

My body needs to rest, and I know that now. I can't keep watching that good series on Netflix until late into the evening. I need to go to bed and get a good night's sleep. If I don't get at least seven hours of sleep every single night, I will pay for it. My body is very sensitive to that. If I'm working on something and I need a break, I'll go and sit outside in the sunshine. I know that I need to listen to my body because when you ignore the subtle cues, they get louder and louder. It's just easy to listen the first time round.

I wouldn't attempt to start new habits in my luteal phase

In the luteal phase, we tend to have less motivation, enthusiasm, and physical energy. That does decrease the closer we get to our menstrual phase. It's not the time to make big, life-changing decisions. It's the time for noticing and assessing things. The best time to start new habits is in your follicular phase when you've emerged out of the menstrual phase. That's a good time to start new things, build new habits, new projects, new exercise regimes, and eating healthy.

I wouldn't wing it through my ovulation phase

Our ovulation phase is the time when we feel the most confident, magnetic, and energetic. But if we don't have a plan, we might start new projects that aren't necessarily aligned with our goals. We might start a whole bunch of projects that we're never going to finish. The best thing you can do for your ovulation phase is to have a plan. If you're working in alignment with your cycle, you've used your menstrual phase to connect with your goal, and your follicular phase is the strategy and the planning.

I wouldn't throw everything away the week before my period starts

Sometimes, a few days before my period starts, I have a really challenging couple of deep luteal days. I want to throw everything out, burn my business to the ground, and start something new because I'm convinced it's not working. Those few days can be challenging, and for me, it's not every cycle. Sometimes, I breeze right on through that. But it's an opportunity to check in and make sure that the underlying reasons for these things are valid and true.

So, those are the top five things that I wouldn't do now, or certainly would have an awareness of and try to stop myself from doing, now that I know about my cycle and hormones. The list could certainly be longer, but these are the key ones I wanted to share with you this episode.

I challenge you to check in with yourself and reflect on the things that you've learned about your cycle and hormones, and what has changed for you since then.