The Power of Rest, Reflection, and Renewal
Menstruation is often viewed as the least glamorous part of the menstrual cycle, but it’s actually a deeply powerful and essential time. While society may pressure us to push through and stay productive, menstruation is your body’s natural cue to slow down, rest, and reset. By understanding what happens during this phase—both physically and emotionally—you can work with your body’s rhythms, rather than against them.
In this blog, we’ll dive into what happens during the menstruation phase, how hormonal changes impact your mood, energy, and body, and the kinds of activities that are best to schedule during this time. We’ll also explore how peri-menopausal and menopausal women can still connect with these rhythms, even without a regular cycle.
What Happens During the Menstruation Phase?
Menstruation marks the beginning of the menstrual cycle (Day 1) and typically lasts between 3-7 days. This is the phase when the lining of your uterus sheds, and your body releases what it no longer needs. In a sense, menstruation is a cleansing, a fresh start.
Let’s look at the key hormonal players:
Progesterone: After dominating the luteal phase, progesterone levels drop sharply, which triggers the shedding of the uterine lining. This hormonal decline can make you feel tired and more introverted.
Estrogen: Estrogen is at its lowest during menstruation, contributing to lower energy levels and sometimes a dip in mood. However, as menstruation progresses, estrogen begins to rise again, setting the stage for renewal and increased energy in the follicular phase.
Testosterone: Like estrogen, testosterone levels are low, which may contribute to feeling a bit flat, but by the end of your period, it begins to rise, helping to boost mood and energy.
How the Menstruation Phase Impacts Your Body and Mind
Menstruation is a time of release, both physically and emotionally. Many women find themselves feeling more introspective and less social during this phase, which is a natural response to the body’s need for rest and restoration.
Here’s a breakdown of how menstruation can impact various aspects of your life:
Mood and Emotions: With hormones at their lowest, you might feel more emotionally sensitive or even melancholic at the beginning of your period. This is a time when many women experience the need for solitude and reflection. However, as estrogen starts to rise towards the end of menstruation, you may begin to feel a gradual lift in your mood, along with a sense of renewal.
Energy and Strength: Expect lower energy levels, especially during the first couple of days of menstruation. Your body is hard at work shedding the uterine lining, which takes a lot of energy. You might feel fatigued or sluggish, but this is also an ideal time to rest. As your period progresses, you may find your energy slowly returning as estrogen begins to rise.
Communication and Social Skills: You may find yourself wanting more alone time during this phase, which is completely natural. It’s not unusual to feel less talkative or to crave deeper, more meaningful conversations rather than surface-level socializing. Honor your need for quiet, and give yourself permission to withdraw a little if that’s what feels right.
Skin and Appearance: During menstruation, some women notice that their skin becomes more sensitive, and issues like dryness or breakouts can occur due to hormonal fluctuations. Staying hydrated and using gentle skincare products can help soothe irritated skin. Toward the end of your period, as estrogen starts to rise, your skin may start to look brighter and clearer.
Digestion: Progesterone, which slows digestion during the luteal phase, is on the decline, so you may notice that your digestion improves somewhat during menstruation. However, some women experience cramps or discomfort, which can impact appetite and digestion. Eating light, easily digestible foods can help ease digestive discomfort during this time.
Motivation and Productivity: Motivation can feel low at the start of your period, but that’s okay! This is not the time for pushing yourself to be ultra-productive. Instead, focus on tasks that allow you to reflect, plan, and ease into your work. As your energy begins to rise later in the phase, you can start thinking about upcoming projects and goals.
Activities to Schedule During the Menstruation Phase
Menstruation is a time for going inward and allowing yourself to rest and rejuvenate. Here’s how to best align your activities with your body’s natural rhythms:
Work and Career
During menstruation, your mind may feel less sharp, and tasks that require intense focus or creativity can feel challenging. Instead, use this time for more introspective work, such as planning, reflecting, or organizing.
To-do List:
Focus on low-energy tasks such as administrative work or planning.
Reflect on your long-term goals and assess what’s working or what needs adjusting.
If possible, avoid scheduling major presentations or high-pressure meetings during the first few days of your period.
Use this time to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming month.
Exercise and Physical Movement
The first few days of your period are perfect for rest or gentle movement. As your energy starts to pick up, you can gradually return to more intense workouts. The key is to listen to your body and move in a way that feels nourishing, not depleting.
To-do List:
Focus on restorative movement like yin yoga, gentle stretching, or walking.
Avoid high-intensity workouts in the first few days; your body needs energy for its natural cleansing process.
Toward the end of your period, as energy starts to rise, you can reintroduce moderate exercise, such as low-impact strength training or light cardio.
Try practices like breathwork or meditation to connect deeply with your body’s rhythms.
Relationships and Social Life
You may feel more introverted during menstruation, preferring one-on-one interactions or quiet time at home over social events. This is a wonderful opportunity to nurture your closest relationships or simply enjoy time alone.
To-do List:
Plan quiet, cozy time with loved ones or by yourself.
Use this phase for deep, meaningful conversations rather than high-energy socializing.
Honor your need for solitude if that’s what your body is craving.
Avoid committing to large gatherings or busy social schedules, especially in the early days of menstruation.
Chores and Home Life
The menstruation phase is about letting go of what no longer serves you, and this can extend to your home life as well. You might feel drawn to tidying up or clearing out clutter, but only in a gentle, unhurried way.
To-do List:
Focus on light, easy chores that don’t require too much energy.
If you feel inclined, take some time to declutter or organize a small area of your home.
Prioritize creating a calm, cozy environment to support rest and relaxation.
Give yourself permission to let chores slide if you’re feeling fatigued.
How Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women Can Work with the Menstruation Phase
For women in perimenopause or menopause, the absence of a regular menstrual cycle doesn’t mean you can’t connect with the energy of the menstruation phase. Many women still experience cyclical energy patterns or can tune into other natural cycles, like the lunar phases, to align with this phase’s themes of rest and renewal.
Here’s how to tap into the menstruation phase energy:
Track Your Energy Cycles: Even without a monthly period, many women in perimenopause or menopause still notice patterns of high and low energy. Recognize when you feel more fatigued, emotional, or introspective, and treat this as your body’s version of the menstruation phase.
Sync with the Moon: The new moon, which symbolizes rest, renewal, and reflection, mirrors the menstruation phase. You can use the new moon as a guide to slow down, reflect, and take stock of your emotional and physical needs.
Prioritize Rest and Reflection: Regardless of where you are in your life cycle, you can benefit from honoring the need for periodic rest. When you feel your energy dipping, take it as a sign to slow down, nurture yourself, and let go of what no longer serves you.
Embracing Your Body’s Natural Rhythm
The menstruation phase offers a unique opportunity to rest, reflect, and renew. By understanding the hormonal shifts that occur during this time, you can give yourself permission to slow down and listen to what your body needs. It’s a time for nurturing, releasing, and preparing for the next phase of growth and energy.
Whether you’re still cycling, in perimenopause, or post-menopausal, your body carries immense wisdom. By tuning into the rhythms of rest and renewal, you can work with your magnificent body to thrive, even in moments of quiet.
So, give yourself permission to rest, reflect, and restore. Your body—and your mind—will thank you.
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