For many women, periods are a dreaded moment, mostly because of the numerous side effects that come with it. In this blog post, I am sharing with you 7 tips to enjoy your periods (yes, it is possible).
Whether it is because of menstrual cramps, headaches, bloating, mood swings, or any other discomfort, periods can be tough for many women.
However, there are still ways to make these days enjoyable and easier to live. The tips to enjoy your periods I’m sharing with you I have applied myself, and they have helped me a lot to accept my body and everything it goes through when in my periods. I really hope they will help you too!
1. Track your cycle
Following your cycle and knowing when your periods are likely to arrive enables you to prepare yourself mentally and physically (and it helps a lot organize your life accordingly!).
All you need is an app such as Flo or Clue to track your cycle and help you predict your next bleeding period.
If you want to go further and learn how your cycle work and how you can use it to monitor your fertility, I highly recommend you checking the Fertility Awareness Method.
I wrote an article about it that you can check by clicking here!
2. Take time for yourself
As I already mentioned in my post related to the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle, the menstrual phase is associated with the winter season. It is a period of time where you live in slow motion and where you should take care of yourself before welcoming the next seasons.
This means to afford yourself to slow down, rest, and delegate, because there are so many things happening in your body during this time.
Your body gets rid of the endometrium (hence the blood) so it is important to listen to yourself and be compassionate with your body.
Yes, this also means you can allow yourself to order food instead of cooking or to postpone house cleaning (-;
3. Be grateful
“What are you talking about Virginia” you might think, but bear with me. Having your periods is a sign that your cycle and body are functioning properly!
After going off the pill, I experienced amenorrhea for more than a year and that’s when I realized how having a healthy cycle is important.
Menstruating regularly is natural since women are physiologically made to conceive. Not having your periods can therefore be an indicator that something isn’t working properly, which can have consequences on your fertility and health.
We tend to take our health for granted until something goes wrong and we remember how great it is to be healthy. Believe me, you can be grateful for having your periods, not everyone has that chance.
4. Address your hormonal imbalances
I get that those tips might not resonate with you if your periods are painful as hell. I experienced that too, but you should know that solutions exist.
Having cramps during your periods is common, but not normal. Premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, or PCOS are most of the time linked to a hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal imbalances can be treated naturally (and no, you don’t heal with a contraceptive pill) by taking care of your diet, gut health, by managing your stress and/or with natural medicine.
Obviously, every woman is different and each will have to find the source of their issues by herself or with a competent doctor. However, don’t forget that you can (and should!) take charge of your health.
I managed to balance my hormones after getting off the pill; I cured my acne, my horrible menstrual cramps, and most of my bloating naturally. If only they would have told us this before… But remember, if I made it, you can too!
I wrote an article on How I balanced my hormones naturally and on How to treat painful periods naturally, check them out if you’re interested!
5. Celebrate it
Maybe the easiest way to look forward to your periods is to celebrate them! For example by going to the restaurant, going out with friends, or simply by allowing yourself a well-deserved bath or Netflix night to welcome your bleeding phase.
The act of associating your menstruations with a positive and special event will help you to look forward to this moment!
6. Adapt your diet
If you’re not new on the blog, you already know that I consider food as medicine. The way you eat has a huge impact on your body, on the way you feel, and therefore, on your cycle.
Ideally, you should stay away from foods that cause inflammation in the body, that stimulates you, and that could cause further cramps.
Avoid :
- dairy
- saturated fats
- large amounts of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine
Related post: Can cutting out dairy affect your period?
Focus on:
- water, to help to reduce bloating and cramping
- fruits and veggies to get your vitamins and minerals
- omega 3s (fatty fish, nuts, avocado, or through supplements) to reduce inflammation
- magnesium (dark chocolate, quinoa, spinach, or through supplements) to help relax tight muscles and uterus
I get my supplements on iHerb.com since there’s a lot of variety for cheap prices. You can get 5% off of your orders by using the code CBY2374 at checkout!
If you’re interested in knowing more about how to eat according to the 4 phases of your menstrual cycle, check out this blog post!
7. Set new goals
Finally, who says periods says new cycle. As we already do this at the beginning of new years or new months, why not to try to set yourself some new goals when your internal cycle begins?
The menstrual phase is the perfect moment to focus on yourself, reflect on the past month, and look further since the following phases will be the most productive of them all.
Find out how the 4 Phases of the menstrual cycle impact your productivity, mood, and energy levels!
These were my 7 tips to enjoy your periods. Now, I want to learn more about you. Are your periods a nightmare for you or did you find ways to go through them more easily? Let me know in the comments below!
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