Here’s how to work according to your cycle

Work – a passion for some, a daily struggle for others. The expectations, demands, routine, the hustle and bustle of everyday life. All in all, it can sometimes be a tough pill to swallow... But that's not really surprising, because a standard working week is actually not ideal: every day is the same (same times, same expectations), and there is little time to listen to your body and give it what it needs. But things can be done differently, and you don't have to radically change your life: in this blog post, we will tell you everything about working according to your cycle.

Work is an important part of our lives. With a bit of luck you will have a job you like, but even then, working life can sometimes be a challenge. And that makes sense, because society as we know it now is not at all tailored to our bodies with ups and downs, hormonal changes and discomforts. That's just how it is…

The power of your cycle

Sometimes your menstrual cycle is called the sixth vital sign of health. It is because your menstrual cycle is a good indicator of your overall health. And in addition, your cycle has a direct impact on how you feel and perform, especially at work.

Our research shows that 90% of women have challenges or complaints around their periods - sometimes these problems are so bad that they affect daily life. Some women are in so much pain they can’t concentrate, get easily distracted or have to go to the washroom frequently. Some can’t work at all and need to call in sick.

Some countries are doing their best to pay more attention to this problem. Spain, for example, offers women menstrual leave. Great of course, but in the end it is only treating the symptoms, not the actual problem. How do you ensure that you can go to work every day even when you have your period?

Work & Your Cycle: Critical First Steps

1. Reduce your complaints as much as possible: we have always heard that suffering from pain is part of being a woman, but that is simply not the case. With a balanced lifestyle, the right diet and additional supplements, you can resolve many of your menstrual challenges whether it's cramps, mood swings or something more debilitating. Use our product finder and get advice specifically tailored to your situation.

2. Learn to live according to your cycle. It may sound vague, but it isn't. Your hormones control everything in your body, and they change every few days. So it is not surprising that sometimes you feel stronger, more focused, more social and just a better version of yourself. And other days? You might just prefer to lie on the couch!

So how do you plan your work around your cycle?

Track Your Cycle and Find Your Strength: A Quick Summary

Your body is controlled by hormones. From your blood pressure, to feelings of stress, to your libido and your sense of happiness, hormones play a role in all of it.

During your fertile years, these hormones ensure that you ovulate every month. But the most important reproductive hormones – estrogen and testosterone – also affect your mood. This means your cycle coincides with how you feel. (See? You’re not going crazy! It’s hormones!) While this can lead to disruptive changes in your mood, you can also use your hormones to your advantage...

Harness Your Hormones for Workplace Mastery

Your cycle has four distinct phases. Most women have a menstrual cycle between 25 and 35 days. To determine your cycle length, just count from the first day of your period (the day you start bleeding).

Do you use hormonal contraception? Then you can also maintain this schedule, but you will probably feel fewer benefits from living according to your cycle, but don’t worry. If you ever want to use a natural method of contraception, you can use this guide to make sure you’re prepared to work according to your cycle!

If you track your cycle, you can find out what phase you’re currently in. The exact timing of each phase can be different for everyone so it could take you several months to figure your cycle out. To be certain, you could also purchase an ovulation test to find out for sure if you are ovulating.

Meanwhile, pay attention to how you feel at work (happy, confident, down, creative, insecure) and try to connect these feelings to the different phases of your cycle. After one or two months you should be able to predict when you will feel like a confident CEO and other times where you may feel more like an insecure intern!

It probably looks a little bit like this:

Your Work Superpower During Each Phase of Your Cycle

❣️ Menstrual phase – intuition, reflection and adjustment

Just as your body sheds its uterine lining, this phase can also be an excellent time to let go of situations that no longer serve you. This creates space to start over with a clean slate.

During this phase we like to seek warmth and comfort. It is also nice to wear comfortable clothes, take an extra moment of self-care and prepare tasty, hot dishes.

In the workplace: Reflect on the past month. How was your work? How are you working together with your colleagues? Are you working on the projects you care about? Is your work going in the direction you want? What changes do you need to stay happy and successful in your work and career?

✨ The follicular phase – creative tasks

Due to the growing follicles, the estrogen concentration will increase in this phase, which in turn will help give you an extra boost of energy and a greater desire for social connection.

This is the ideal time to do something you would normally avoid.

On the work front: This phase is perfect for starting new projects or brainstorming. It is a great period to develop certain ideas and insights already acquired and to take action. Here you can also think further about how you can solve certain problems and how you can achieve and set goals. You may also find that you have more energy to work more and longer, for example.

🥚 Ovulation phase – communication is your strength

Your estrogen is now peaking and the luteinizing hormone is also rising dramatically. When you are ovulating, you are usually at the peak of your energy, your communication skills are at their best and you have a lot of self-confidence.

In the workplace: During this period you may feel more confident and communication with others also runs more smoothly. If you need to present, network or secure deals, now is your time to do so. Just like in the follicular phase, you are still full of energy, so stepping up your game shouldn't be a problem now.

🧘‍♀️ Luteal or premenstrual phase – at work

From the second half of your cycle (after ovulation), progesterone takes over. The amount of estrogen then decreases and the progesterone levels increase. Progesterone calms the brain and will also make you calmer and gentler.

During this phase you may also suffer from PMS complaints such as headache, depression, bloating, depressive feelings, low energy, mood swings and painful breasts. Listen carefully to your body and be kind to yourself. Talk about it with a colleague or partner so that you don't suffer alone. If the symptoms are too severe, talk to a doctor about it.

In the workplace: You may notice that you are more emotional and may be more easily overstimulated. Therefore, focus on tasks and activities that give you more peace and do not stimulate you more than necessary. Even if this does not always seem feasible, it is good to know and understand that it is normal to feel this way. Being armed with this information can help you to accept your emotions without self blame or criticism.

In this phase you are a master at completing tasks. Complete projects, do administrative tasks or submit monthly reports.

And what if I can't adjust my work?

No problem. We get it. See the above as a guideline and not as something you must do or follow. Sometimes you just have to do certain things, especially at work and unfortunately, they may not completely match the phase you are in at that moment. That’s OK. It doesn’t mean you’re doomed to failure. It just gives you context for your emotions and energy level.

In general, try to add things that don't require much effort for you and take your cycle into account after work. Understanding your cycle better and fully embracing it can really help you feel better throughout the month.

And what about men and their work lives?

Men also have a cycle, with peaks and valleys. The big difference is that the male cycle lasts 24 hours and is controlled by testosterone, while the female cycle lasts an average of 28 days and is controlled by estrogen and progesterone.

When we look at the rhythm of the male cycle, it seems as if daily work life is perfectly tailored to this. Thanks to testosterone, men are at their best during the day. Ideal for a standard working day from nine to five.

Especially in the morning, the testosterone peak provides energy, self-confidence, impulsiveness and a general good mood. There is enough testosterone for the rest of the day to stay cheerful and driven.

In the afternoon, the remaining amount of testosterone ensures productivity, focus and teamwork. And just as the testosterone level drops towards the evening and the man becomes tired, the working day is over. While a woman will feel more confident around ovulation and calmer in the days before her period.

Want to know more about the male cycle? Check out our blog post here.

More Ways to Support Your Cycle

Working in tune with your cycle allows you to take advantage of your strengths in ways you may never have thought about before. It also may allow you to give yourself some grace when you’re not performing at your best. You can support your cycle even more with a healthy lifestyle, diet, regular activity and add the right supplements if you feel like you can use something extra.

More questions about your menstrual health? Talk to us! We’re here for you and we want to help. Talk to an expert, or use our product finder to find out what product is best for you. You deserve to feel Guud every day of the month.