6 minute read
Sync your Business with your Cycle
Holistic Performance and Embodiment coach, Sara Jager, explains how women can maximise business productivity by aligning their work activities with the different phases of their monthly cycle and using it to their advantage.
How is your menstrual cycle connected with your business? At first sight it may seem that these two areas couldn’t be further away from one another, but in reality, they are much more interconnected than you might think. Actually, as I will be presenting in this article, syncing your business with your cycle might just be the secret ingredient to your success as a woman entrepreneur. Most of us haven’t been taught much about our menstrual cycles and how to work with the ups and downs of energy, emotions, mental clarity and desire to connect with others. More often the messages we got about the menstrual cycle came with a negative connotation as something to be ashamed of as it makes women moody, lazy, unreliable and crazy.
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If you’ve directly or indirectly received the message that your cycle is a burden you simply need to carry as a woman and your best option is to just deal with it in silence, you’re not alone. Even though the menstrual cycle is recognised as a vital sign of health for women, this topic still doesn’t get much attention.
Why is that? Well, the world we live in operates in a linear way. We are expected to show up the same and perform the same duties day in and day out. Also many productivity gurus preach about having a strict schedule and a disciplined approach to manage our days, where every working day follows the same routine. While this approach may be working for men, whose energy rises and falls with the sun and has a 24-hour cycle, the same principles cannot be applied to women who follow the lunar cycle which is spread over 28 days (or however long your cycle is). We need to become aware that women have a cyclical nature consisting of four very distinct phases which are as different as the yearly seasons.
Common sense tells us to adapt to the seasons by changing our clothes, the way we eat and what we focus on, so it only makes sense that we adapt all our actions with our menstrual cycle, including our business activities. If we don’t do that, we are working against ourselves, are alienated from our source of power, inspiration, creativity, wisdom and intuition and we are unconsciously blocking our way to success.
Let’s walk through the cycle and what you can focus on in your business as you go through the four phases:
Menstrual Phase
The best thing you can do for yourself during the menstrual days, especially the first two, is to rest as much as possible. If you don’t rest in this phase, it’s as if you wouldn’t sleep at night, it’s that important and it will affect your energy and wellbeing throughout the whole month.
Don’t plan important meetings, events and practice saying No.
Don’t panic - that doesn’t mean you won’t get anything done; on the contrary this resting phase can be really productive when you focus on the tasks that will naturally flow. Menstrual phase is a great time to take a step back and do an evaluation of your business to see what is working and what needs to be adjusted, so you stay in alignment with your bigger vision and long-term goals. It is also a good time for writing content as when you allow yourself to rest, the creativity will start flowing naturally and you may emerge from your resting days with a new offer, updated website copy or a book chapter. If you have any important decisions to make, rely on your intuition as it is at its strongest at this time.
Follicular phase
After the bleeding period, you probably feel more energised and lighter and it’s time for some outward action! This is the No Excuse phase, when it’s time to be bold, plan big and take steps or leaps into the direction you want to go. Use this energy to push yourself out of your comfort zone towards expansion. Whatever it is you have been wishing and planning to do, now is the time to do it. Launch that project, publish the post you have been resisting to put out, send that email which has been in your draft folder for so long, hire support, start new ventures and go full speed ahead in your business.
Ovulation phase
With the energy still high, you are at the peak of your performance when ovulation comes. Your feminine magnetism is making sure that everything is in flow and all the right opportunities, people and support effortlessly line up for you. Communication is easy and your confidence gets an extra boost, that is why this is the perfect phase for sales calls, raising your prices or asking for a promotion, having important conversations, networking, collaborating, launching new offers, speaking on live events and recording videos. It’s also a great time to celebrate your success as big or small as you may think it is and check in with your big vision.
Luteal phase
This phase is the longest of all and can actually be divided into two parts. In the first part you still have quite a lot of energy and it’s a great time to finalise projects and wrap up errands as your mind is very detail oriented during this phase.
The second part, the week before the period, can bring overwhelm and anxiety. Mix in some cravings and you got yourself the perfect PMS combo that can throw you off the track. Doubts and fears surface and the inner saboteur kicks in, but this is not all bad news. This phase is about releasing what isn’t serving you, so when you recognise and look at what is coming up, you can make empowered choices and decide what you want to let go. Also, if you are conscious about your cycle and have been adapting your activities, resting when needed and taking care of a balanced diet, you won’t be overwhelmed in this phase. Use this phase to slow down, minimise interaction with others, so you have enough space to process and decide what you want to carry on into the next cycle and what you’re leaving behind.
How to start synching your business with your cycle? First of all, start by tracking your cycle. You can use an app, specially designed spreadsheet or journal. Knowing where you are in your cycle and observing how your energy and work dynamic changes will bring you awareness about your patterns and enable you to navigate through the month in a smooth way. Once you know where you are in your cycle you can start planning your activities, so they are most aligned with the phases as outlined above.
Note that you might experience your cycle differently than described here. Every woman is different and how you experience your cycle depends on many factors, so approach this process with patience and curiosity. As you start this journey of aligning your lifestyle with your cycle, you will find it’s actually a blessing, not a burden.
Sara Jager is a Holistic Performance and Embodiment coach, Yoga Teacher, Cultural Anthropologist and Menstrual Cycle Educator. Her mission is to empower conscious leaders by showing them how to unlock their holistic performance and reclaim their personal power and purpose, so they can enjoy sustainable success without sacrifices and create a legacy they love. hello@sarajager.com
