cycle girlie

On metamorphosis and menstrual cycles and a magic little trick (a GIFT, for YOU!) to add the phases of your cycle to your calendar and sync to your work and life.

As I woke up on Monday morning I found myself having transformed into a pile of mush. Heart, lungs, eyes, shin bones floating in goo.

I wanted to concurrently crawl out of my skin, hide inside a shell, and for my life just to feel normal, as it does for a few glimpses from time to time.

But that’s not the path I chose. I am not one to cling fondly to the past or go out of my way for things to stay the same. I body slam myself at every chance I get to evolve and then wonder innocently doe-eyed why my self and my life are changing again.

A constant cycle of falling apart and coming together again, of losing my way and walking myself back home. Right alongside 8 billion other people like a knot of snakes shedding their skins over and over again.

The nature of life is to metamorphose repeatedly.

Except that the way humans do it is that we look marginally the same on the outside while turning into an existential puddle of goo on the inside until naturally, our insides restructure themselves and a new version, only slightly distinct but somehow also completely new remarkably walks around in the same body as before.

Some of our internal metamorphoses take years. Sometimes we move from caterpillar to mush to butterfly in just one day. Midwifing ourselves through a process of existing, breaking, and re-creating. An endless cycle of reinvention.

That’s what I woke up to on Monday morning.

Then there are other cycles.

As a woman, I have a monthly cycle where blood pools and then drips from between my legs. It is a metamorphosis of another kind.

In my early twenties, I discovered a love for my monthly cycles. In my early thirties, I understood them.

Desperate, ashamed, and stoic after ending an unwanted pregnancy with an abrupt and painful medical pill I was coerced into getting a copper IUD by my boyfriend and my doctor.

For one and a half years I contended with painful periods, dissociation, spotting at odd times and constant brain fog.

With despair and frustration, I researched and educated myself. Books upon books on women, family planning, menstrual cycles and birth control piled up on my bedside table.

Until one day I had enough and knew enough and went to get it taken out.

The doctor asked me “Are you sure you want it out?” with judgement in her tone.

“Yes. It’s ruining my life.” I replied adamantly.

“What are you planning to use for birth control instead?” Her eyebrows raised.

“I’m going to track my cycle.” I smiled, confident that I knew how, angry that I did not know sooner, furious that this isn’t the first thing a woman is taught.

“I think you should stick to the IUD” she leant back looking at me.

“Do you even know how IUDs work?” I snarked back incredulously.

“Well, they stop the sperm from entering the egg.”

“How do they do that?”

“We don’t know exactly how, we just know that it works.”

I was burning inside.

“We do know how. What happens is that you put a foreign object inside a woman’s most delicate parts that creates an inflammation inside her so great that it stops her from being able to conceive. Why do I know that, and you don’t?”

A nurse was called over who took me to another room and removed the offensive item in minutes.

The one book that taught me how to track my cervical fluid and temperature and the position of my cervix so I would only get pregnant if and when I wanted to was What Every Woman Needs to Know About Fertility: Your Guide to Fertility Awareness to Plan or Avoid Pregnancy.

It still seems to be a taboo topic. Sources of information for books or details online are almost negligible. Like, wow, if women take full ownership over their bodies, all religious and corporate systems will cease to exist, global power structures will shift in some seismic way, and the entire world will collapse.

If the world is that fragile, we have bigger issues at hand.

Two other favourite books were “The Woman Code” and “In The Flo” by Alisa Vitti. Both books are about how to sync your life with your menstrual cycle to optimize your health, wellness, and your career.

Running a woman-centric business as a woman, I was fascinated with the idea that I could structure my work around my inner cycles.

Hungry for ways to sync my tasks with my cycle and energy levels I tried many apps including Flo and Kindara to integrate cycle awareness into managing my life but none of them fit my flow.

I depend on my iCal calendar and my physical Plannher to organise and execute my work, life and days. So, with the help of a friend, I made up a calendar based on the tips of the two books.

Today, I am going to share it with you.

It’s customisable, so anyone can use it to sync their life with their menstrual cycle. This adds another layer of awareness to your cycle and helps you create a more balanced and harmonious relationship with your body in conjunction with your work life.

Add the phases of your cycle to your calendar to sync with your work life.

Here is what you do:

• Go to your calendar. Create a new calendar by clicking the “+” sign and the “Create calendar” option. Name it something like “My Cycle.”

• Download the calendar from this link. It is formatted .ics, so it will be easy to add to any calendar.

• Open your calendar application. This could be Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or any other calendar app that supports ICS imports.

iCal/Apple Calendar does it automatically, Google Calendar, like this:

• In Google Calendar, click “Settings” at the bottom of the side menu and then click on the “Import & export” tab.

• Under “Import,” click “Select the file from your computer” and choose the ICS file you downloaded from this article. Select your new Google Calendar that you named “My cycle” or something similar.

• Click “Import” to import the events from the ICS file into your selected calendar.

FINALLY! Modify the first four event details to customize to YOUR OWN CYCLE!

Menstrual information:

1. Calculate the total of your cycle length and the total of each phase.

2. Change the calendar in sync with your last menstruation date.

3. Modify your cycle length in each event (the calendar standard is 28 days but my cycle length is more like 33 days).

4. Edit each phase duration, and adapt it to your reality (make sure it doesn’t exceed the total length of your cycle)

Enjoy!

Vienda ♥

P.S. An overview pulled from the books I recommended above:

Menstrual Phase

This is a time for rest and renewal. The main recommendations include:

• Getting plenty of rest and sleep.

• Avoiding intense physical exercise.

• Eating nutrient-dense, warm, and comforting foods.

• Drinking warm fluids, such as herbal teas, to promote circulation and hydration.

• Taking magnesium supplements to reduce cramps and headaches.

Professional recommendations:

• Take time off if possible, or schedule light work or activities during this phase.

• Use this time to reflect, plan, and set intentions for the upcoming cycle.

• Practice self-care activities like taking a relaxing bath or receiving a massage.

Nutrition and shopping list: 

• Focus on warm, comforting, and nutrient-dense foods such as soups, stews, and bone broth.

• Incorporate iron-rich foods such as red meat, poultry, beans, and leafy greens to support blood loss during menstruation.

• Shop for ingredients like grass-fed beef, dark leafy greens, lentils, and organic chicken or turkey. 

Follicular Phase

This is a time for renewal and creativity. The main recommendations include:

• Engaging in moderate physical exercise, such as walking, yoga, or dancing.

• Eating light and fresh foods, such as salads and smoothies, to support detoxification.

• Increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients to support hormone production.

• Practising creative activities, such as painting, writing, or singing.

Professional recommendations:

• Take on new projects or activities that require creativity and innovation.

• Network and attend social events to build new connections.

• Focus on professional development, such as attending workshops or taking courses.

Nutrition: 

• Focus on fresh, light, and detoxifying foods such as green salads, smoothies, and juices.

• Incorporate foods rich in vitamin B6, such as bananas, nuts, and seeds, to support hormone production.

• Shop for ingredients like spinach, kale, avocados, chia seeds, and milk.

Ovulatory Phase

This is a time for connection and expression. The main recommendations include:

• Engaging in more vigorous physical exercise, such as running or strength training.

• Eating foods that support blood sugar balance, such as complex carbohydrates and proteins.

• Practicing self-care and connecting with others.

• Taking steps to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Professional recommendation: 

• Schedule important meetings or presentations during this phase, as communication skills and confidence are heightened.

• Collaborate with others on projects and tasks.

• Attend industry events and conferences to build professional connections.

Nutrition and shopping list: 

• Focus on foods that support blood sugar balance, such as complex carbohydrates and proteins to promote sustained energy.

• Incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and walnuts, to support hormone production and reduce inflammation.

• Shop for ingredients like sweet potatoes, quinoa, salmon, walnuts, and Greek yoghurt.

Luteal Phase

This is a time for reflection and preparation. The main recommendations include:

• Engaging in gentle exercises, such as yoga or stretching

• Eating foods that support hormonal balance, such as leafy greens, legumes, and healthy fats.

• Reducing intake of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol to reduce PMS symptoms.

• Practising self-care and stress management techniques.

Professional recommendations:

• Prioritize tasks and projects to ensure completion before the next cycle begins.

• Use this phase for planning and organization, such as reviewing goals and making action plans.

• Practice self-care activities and stress management techniques to reduce PMS symptoms and promote well-being.

Nutrition and Shopping list: 

• Focus on foods that support hormonal balance, such as leafy greens, legumes, and healthy fats to reduce PMS symptoms.

• Incorporate foods rich in magnesium, such as dark chocolate, nuts, and seeds, to reduce cramps and headaches.

• Shop for ingredients like broccoli, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, and coconut oil.