Green Tree

Time off can feel impossible and is a luxury that many cannot afford. But can you find ten minutes to give yourself and start from there? Can you gift yourself thirty minutes of quiet time, to turn away from the world and tune into yourself to see what happens, without scrolling on your phone?

If your period takes a while to get going, you might be confused as to what counts as day 1. The first day of your cycle is one where you experience your period in full flow. Spotting a light amount of blood before your period starts is the tail end of a cycle, even if it continues for several days before your blood flow increases and your period actually begins.

We don’t sync up with each other. Research conducted by the menstrual app Clue found that rather than menstrual synchronicity occurring among menstruators who live together, their periods were more likely to diverge over time. If there are periods of time when you menstruate at the same time as someone you live with, it’s likely because cycles vary in length for some individuals as well as varying between different individuals, so it makes sense that there will be periods of overlap when you’re bleeding together.

I am a huge believer in the health benefits of having a menstrual cycle as well as how it can benefit your life

But anything that you choose to do for your mental or physical health, or situation in life, is up to you. It’s your body, and your life, and I encourage you to tune in to your own wisdom.

Yes, we are hormonal, and that’s a very good thing

And breathe, your Spring is here. It’s time to shake off the slump of hibernation and step into the sunny side of your cycle. As you emerge from your cocoon, can you feel life getting lighter and brighter again?

If you realise that you’re sensitive to the gentle upswing of oestrogen from day 3 (the third day of your period), pay particular attention to the days that follow as it may be that you either have a fairly short Winter season that you come out of around day 3 or 4, or, if you go on to feel depleted and emotional a few days later, you probably need to appreciate that you’re still in your Winter and need to ease up a bit while you’re technically still there rather than jumping back in. I know that when you’re feeling good that it can be irresistible to get back in the swing of things but try to keep something in the tank. When my client Azizah is in her Winter she feels exhausted, but in her Spring she says, ‘I begin to feel like I can do anything and begin to take things on. It’s probably when I’m at my most vulnerable and I’m likely to take too much on.’

And although it’s mighty tempting to let go of all control and see where this propulsion takes you, try to keep control and hold back by 20 per cent.

This can be as straightforward as recalling the intention you set at the beginning of this cycle. Your Spring is going to give it a whole lot of impetus, so you’d be wise to keep it present in your mind. Write it on a sticky note and stick it on your mirror so that you see it alongside your beautiful self every day.