The balance benefits of understanding your hormonal cycle

Today, I want to talk about a balance tool that I haven’t discussed in this blog before. It’s something that comes up frequently with my clients during 1:1 coaching sessions and wellbeing workshops. However, it’s a topic that is often shrouded in cultural embarrassment, miseducation and, for many, naivety. Today, I want to talk about the balance benefits of understanding your hormonal cycle.

Let us, for a moment, become a fly on the wall when working with a client. Sometimes, they will share the desire to have a better balance. To feel capable, confident, in flow and productive. To have the energy to be present and engaged with friends and family, not drained and depleted.

When we are reflecting on these topics, they may share stories of wavering self-esteem or energy levels that peak and trough in ways they can’t understand.  So, the reflective questions begin!

Let me ask you the same questions I ask them:

• When does the most confident version of you show up? How can you find them?
• When do you feel the most energised? What is happening?
• When do you do your best work?
• What happens when you feel the most creative?
• Is there any pattern emerging?

 

My confession …

One of the many benefits of training and working as a coach is the emphasis on self-reflection and compassion. It’s paying attention to what works and forgiving yourself for what doesn’t.

Even though I’m sales-trained, with experience as long as your arm, my self-assurance has always come in waves. Sometimes, I feel at the top of my game, clearly showing the world what I do, asking for what I want, and letting the rejections slide away.

However, I have at least a week every month when I am akin to Teflon.

Nothing negative sticks.

My writing flows.

I’m full of ideas.

I’m comfortable selling.

Rejections don’t (really) sting.

 

Then there is at least a week of the month where it’s the opposite. I’m withdrawn, anxious, unsettled and full of self-doubt.

Can you see the pattern yet?

My hormonal life isn’t on a 24-hour clock. I have always known this about myself and the significant impact it has. But something shifted when I moved into self-employment ten years ago.

I now have complete control over my diary. And not just day to day; week to week over each month. I can plot out my work to suit how I am feeling, and I quickly saw the positive impact on my work, my health, and my relationships.

Yes, I’m talking about my menstrual cycle – and how I plan my working month to suit what I need. When this is named, by my client, as one of the fluctuating issues around confidence, balance, and other things, it also makes a massive difference with my clients, too,

So, I’m going to share with you what I share with them (you may also like this podcast where I touch on it!).

I find I’m at my best in my follicular stage (usually “week two” of my cycle). During this time, I am more outgoing, better at problem solving, and I have higher energy, both physically and socially. So, typically, I will:

 

• Write, write and more writing.
• Focus on sales/business development – both planning and action taking!
• Increase my coaching availability.
• Aim to deliver more workshops or meetings.
• More socialising/ networking

 

The headlines: it is much easier to find my flow.

 

However, during my luteal stage (the week before my period), I need something different. I’m more withdrawn and less patient, but I have better attention to detail!

So, to support this, I:

 

• Reduce my coaching time availability.
• Schedule my business socials (mostly written in my “good week”)
• Increase my sleep.
• Start my day later – increase my gentle movement.
• Work on more administrative tasks or things that don’t need much “thinking time”.

 

Now, I am very aware I’m in a very lucky position to be able to control my diary the way I do – but today, I want to set you a challenge.

Work out what your good and challenging weeks are for your hormones – Look back and try and predict (or use a period app) when each part of your cycle may fall over the next three months. Highlight your good week(s) and your tricky week (s) in whatever way you see fit. I highlight the relevant weeks in green and red.

 

Now, think about your routine life and work activities and where you can schedule them into the weeks when the most confident/energised/creative version of yourself shows up. This can help you feel more balanced, as you aren’t working against your natural cycle!  This exercise, however, is not just about productivity; it’s about what you don’t do at those times and what extra radical self-care you need.

 

Why don’t we make 2025 the year that we acknowledge that half of the population exists on a monthly hormonal cycle? When you understand what works for you, then the next phase in your life begins. A way to create a career to enjoy, a week at a time, rather than enduring by working against what you need.

Now, over to you. I’d love to know how this would help you. Managers, is it something to roll out across your team?

 

P.S. Since writing and scheduling this blog, I sat in a wonderful talk by Claire-Louise Knox, the founder of See Her Thrive. Her organisation is on a mission to educate and empower around hormone health. If this is something that interests you, please check them out!