Your menstrual cycle is like your most loved friend – or sometimes, your worst enemy. One minute, my hormones make me feel incredible (is this me finally getting my life together?) and the next I’m crying because I ate the last biscuit, thinking I had another one left in the packet. Sometimes I just feel all over the place – and that's completely normal, fellow menstruators. But, I felt like I could use a little help when it comes to managing my cycle together with my work.
So, I decided to meet with Sabrina Sarl, Creative Business Coach & Consultant, whose expertise in periods stem from her personal experiences as a woman as well as countless conversations with friends. These discussions highlighted the differences everyone would feel each month. Sabrina is a qualified acupuncturist with knowledge of Chinese medicine and how periods are considered a vital sign to your heart rate and blood pressure, giving insights into our overall health and well-being, yet remains a topic that is often not spoken about enough. By splitting my cycle into four seasons, Sabrina and I approached how our hormones are often responsible for all those feelings and different moods we're so familiar with – but definitely not in a negative way.
At school you’re taught that during puberty, girls aged between 9-16 will experience their first monthly period, continuing until you start menopause – and while we learn about the physical element of periods, there's not often much learning around the full menstrual cycle itself. For each week of your four week cycle, you’ll experience different feelings, both physically and mentally, whether that be menstrual cramps, acne, a sore back, feeling more sensitive than usual or equally confident AF.
1 in 5 women and people who menstruate are struggling to buy period products.
I remember the exact day I got my first period – March 10th 2010. These days, despite my Flo app telling me when my period is due, I can always tell just before – I feel irritable, sometimes so anxious with no reason for it… and, perhaps more bizarrely, I have a strong tendency to clean. Usually, I'm mid-way through turning a room upside down when I realise what time of the month it is. Sabrina helped me to understand what I can do to help reduce any stress.
While we may not always have the luxury of aligning our schedules perfectly with our cycles, being aware of and acknowledging the role our hormones play can empower us to navigate any challenges more effectively. Understanding these patterns allows us to be kinder to ourselves and make more informed decisions about our workload and well-being. At the time of my period, especially if I have a big meeting, I'll wake up even earlier and take time for myself before a busy day, as there is nothing worse than being stressed and running late.
How I hacked my menstrual cycle at work
Winter (period and early follicular phase)
“During this time you have your period. Typically lasting between 3-7 days, your oestrogen and progesterone hormone levels are low, so now is your time to try rest and have a wellness week,” says Sabrina.
I have a manic life, so when I feel myself naturally withdrawing from certain situations, I know it’s time to just take a step back. Unfortunately, you can't just stop working – so instead I try to take things at my own pace. I feel myself wanting to work more independently, experimenting with new creative designs at work. Instead of my usual chatty lunch break, I try doing a gentle yoga class, for some more quality ‘me’ time. I try not to isolate myself too much though, because equally I know that won't help me either – so on another day, I go on a hot girl walk with my friend and have a proper catch up.
Spring (late follicular phase)
Oh hello, my absolute favourite time of the month. After your period, you approach ovulation and oestrogen levels are rising. I feel confident, I feel sexy – goodbye overthinking! “You’re naturally able to push ourselves harder during this time, so now is the best time to put your headphones on, go to the gym and practice weightlifting, or go for that run; it’s known women can get their personal bests during this time,” says Sabrina.
I'm told this is the time to be proactive, so I write everything I want to achieve, have a catch up with my boss and discuss future steps. Equally, this is the time to apply for that new job or try to negotiate a higher salary. I feel more sociable and have a clear plan in my head about what I want – but I'm mindful not to burn the candle at both ends.
If you’re dealing with these lovely experiences at the same time, here’s a game plan.
Summer (ovulation and early luteal phase)
“Typically within days 10-17 days (based on a 28 day cycle), you’re at your maximum energy level now with oestrogen at its peak – and progesterone levels low,” says Sabrina. Now I think about it, I have so much energy and ideas during this time each month. I make a point of organising a meeting to discuss an idea I've been hoping to try, and set about finishing a presentation I'd previously been putting off. And it feels so productive.
Outside of work, I make some inspiring boards on Pinterest – (my favourite app) and manifesting what I want my dream house to look like and any places I'd love to visit. Anything is possible. My advice? Do your Cardio and HIIT workouts during this time, try boxing, and put yourself out there and go on that date – it is the week of endorphins, after all.
Autumn (late luteal and premenstrual phase)
Finally comes Autumn, the time in the menstrual cycle where your progesterone levels rise. Many associate this time with PMS and low mood, but Sabrina helped me to reframe this idea. My body finally gets to relax! This month, I learnt to love that feeling of slowing down, having a hot bath, watching countless episodes of Friends on repeat, and doing a bit of gentle life admin.
I look at my diary – hoping ‘Summer’ Néamh wasn't too ambitious and hadn't booked a full week of socialising – and I journal, writing out my thoughts and not being hard on myself. When you start to check in with your cycle, you can notice the difference – I am certainly more quiet and can sometimes feel a bit withdrawn during this time. But, to put my newfound awareness to the test, I had a big creative meeting slap bang in the middle of my Autumn phase, which might have usually made me quite stressed but as mentioned, I woke up earlier, knew I was prepared and wrote down any stresses I had before leaving for work. Everything went well, and I felt much better having actually checked in with myself.
I used to hate how sluggish I felt during my premenstrual phase, but this month I didn't beat myself up for not wanting to do my usual workout. Instead, I go for a walk during my lunch break and immediately felt the benefits of some fresh air. And as per Sabrina's advice, I try not to drink a lot of caffeine during this time as it's known to increase anxiety.
“Our menstrual cycles influence everything from our ability to focus to our social interactions, so it's natural that they affect our performance at work, where we spend a significant portion of our time. Recognising and acknowledging our strengths and potential challenges related to our cycle can be empowering, providing us with valuable insights into our personal capabilities”.
And how to sync your skincare.
And so, the cycle starts again. I always knew I felt different during each week of the month, but Sabrina's coaching helped me really understand it. It's all about knowing what stage you're in and taking advantage of it, rather than resenting your ‘time of the month’. Repeat after me: periods are powerful.
For a coaching session with Sabrina visit - www.sabrinasarl.com
For more from GLAMOUR's Commerce Photo Editor, Néamh Randall, follow her on Instagram @neamhrandall
