TRANSCRIPT
Ebb and Flow | Why Your Cycle Can Be A Powerful Productivity Tool
Iva 1:22
Today's episode, we are diving into the fascinating world of cycle synergy, so harmonizing your rhythms and not resisting them because let's be real many of us often associate our periods and our menstrual cycle with cramps, fatigue, we get emotional and a lot of these ailments we talk about and can definitely identify with as women. But what if I told you that aligning with your cycle can be a powerful productivity technique, and the key may lie in understanding how to harness the ebb and flow of our hormones? So Desiree my beautiful cohost, is joining me to talk all about it today. So welcome this to the podcast!
Desiree 2:25
Hello, Iva. I'm super excited about today's topic because I have always wondered why one week I can be so productive putting all those checkmarks behind my to-dos. And other weeks it feels like I'm dragging myself and I can't even seem to achieve the most basic tasks. As a mom was don't you feel that something like
Iva 2:52
Riding a bicycle underwater? Yeah,
Desiree 2:55
Exactly. It's like, why is it like that right? Well, so I decided to explore this topic. Just a little bit more because we as Mom Bosses, we don't have a lot of time, right. So I want to wanted to find out how can I use the little time that I have just so much more effectively, and so well? We are women, right? So it's really completely natural that no week is like the next and the cycle takes the reins. So I didn't really… I kind of ignored that fact for the longest time. I have to admit because I was just dragging myself through these phases, and felt so frustrated by the end of the day, right? Or during the weeks where I just couldn't do things and I was laying low. I felt extremely guilty that I wasn't maximizing my time and getting all of these things crossed off my list. So this is what I found. And I really wanted to share this with you because I have been using these findings and these little methods here for a while now. And I have to say I feel a lot more accomplished and I feel a lot more just content with how I've used my time and sort of the output achieved.
Iva 4:24
I love this! and I love the fact that you are you know, using this approach of Let me try it on myself and see what changes I that we can share that and then we can document that. document them in a way because yeah, that is part of what helps us to really find the what feels aligned for us is to trying it out test it out. And being a little bit like that critical thinker of saying like yes, this sounds logical or this sounds you know, okay, like something that makes a lot of sense. How does it apply to me because that's, that's the true litmus test, so to speak, when it gets to be applied in our own life.
Desiree 5:19
Exactly. And then here's a little disclaimer of course, that everyone is a little bit different, right? People tick differently, our body just works in a different way. And that we're going to talk about a few phases here. And for many women, of course, these phases tend to overlap with each other. So there's nothing to say that this phase is like three days long, or this is 11 or this is 14 because it can be a little bit different for you, and a little bit different for me, but I think that's the beauty of just tapping into yourself as well and seeing what feels right for you. And it took me a little while and I think I'm still kind of fine tuning it, of course, but it's also a beautiful way of how to listen to your body in a better way. So there's four phases that we as women go through, and that is the menstruation phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation and then the luteal phase. So I think this time, I'm not going to dive too deep into the biological things that I've found with all the hormone spikes and the progesterone production estrogen production. I think I'm gonna leave that maybe hopefully to an expert one day. But I just really wanted to take out of these phases, what we can do like actionable tips that we can follow to
Iva 6:49
Break it down a little bit more, which one comes first. So how do you start counting? Is it from start of your period or after your period or during your period does like the count zero?
Desiree 7:04
Yeah, it's a good question. So I actually I think you could do it in different ways. I personally always start from the menstruation phase because that's like in a way that tries to track like, when does that begin and registration got that your period. So also keeping all of that in mind when I have been following a 12 week plan. It's a strategy I learned from you, right? My 12 week year. So everything that I want to do I actually plan it out and 12 week increments, because that keeps me accountable. It's not too far in the future because it's so hard to predict the future especially with kids around right. So that seems to work really well. And then I will kind of also indicate in these weeks that I plan out what are my cycles and I will write it down so I can really see when I plan these weeks what to plan. So okay, so let's dive into the menstruation phase right when you start bleeding. That is usually when our focus and our energy is completely out.
Iva 8:12
That's when you reach for the chocolate.
Desiree 8:16
Exactly, exactly. So yeah, yeah, possibly right and like all the mood swings, tide creeping in and all of that, right. So that I think the key to that is not to fill up your calendar during that time. Right? Give yourself space to rest, because we may not think we need it but we do, really need the rest. So we need to also then schedule time for self-care, right, whatever that may look like in your world, but schedule it in because our body deserves it. Everything that the body is going through at that moment. You also during that time, you may not feel really social right, you're crabby Well, obviously you're bleeding and it's so skip the night out if someone says hey, let's go out or let's do this or a social event, just skip it
Iva 9:14
So things can take a different turn from what it was intended in terms of where we might be a little bit more sensitive. So even comments that are said you know with the best of intentions are very innocently we can you know we can take them the wrong way or we can feel more feelings to like a certain word or a certain something that might trigger right. Spouses they should mark this on their calendar and be like yes, yes, darling. No darling and then that's it. Keep it simple.
Desiree 9:55
Yeah, that's a good that's a good cue, okay, to all the husbands listening right now,
Hey, I'm actually gonna start doing that. Let's see what happens yeah. So get an early night and if you are a person that loves to work out as well, you know, instead of like booking yourself that HIIT session or doing that at home, do a yoga class, do something a little bit more flowy a little bit more. less impact, and really, exactly be gentle with yourself and move at a slower pace than usual. Now, what I found like this last one is really be gentle with yourself and move slower. And I intentionally do that now without feeling guilty. I used to feel guilty because I am naturally I feel I'm slower. I'm more tired. I'm, you know, not sociable. And at the end of the day, I would have so much guilt towards my kids, towards me, towards friends or you know, my partner, but you shouldn't because that is your time and just knowing that in my head gives me that permission slip to slow down.
Iva 12:18
And I love I love that sense of the slowing down allows us to tune even more into our bodies and into what we need. So it's like the cycle right? It's like a cycle within a cycle because they now are really tuning in and going with what feels good is going to be more nurturing, more nourishing. Our body has a lot of stored wisdom if we listen. But we have to listen, we have to slow down we cannot be in the middle of the busyness of our head, as you say, the conversations, like the energies of a lot of people around us constantly. It really tunes it out.
Desiree 13:02
Yeah, exactly. So the next one then is the follicular phase. That's when like the estrogen boosts and you're suddenly feeling driven to take on any challenge whatsoever. So that's usually after and again, these phases sometimes overlap. For some people, it may even start during your menstrual cycle already. For some people it comes after this is I think where you just need to tune into your own body a little bit. But suddenly, you're feeling so driven to take on just anything right? It's like a newfound energy to work on creative projects. It feels like a brain fog is lifted and you're ready for those more complex tasks. That's when you usually say, Hey, kickboxing, I always wanted to try it. Let's go for it. Let's go for a spin class. Like you know, these high intensity things. You're probably gonna say yes to those during that time. And often there's also like if you're feeling ready to try something new, maybe it's like a hobby you've been eyeing or someone invites you be like, Hey, let's go on a little trip or let's try out this new restaurant or this new cafe. somewhere you've never been before. That's your time. That's when you feel creative and just super happy to explore.
Iva 14:24
So it's like the peak that comes after the valley, so to speak. This, you know this this period after you have your period, and it's when do you have you noticed, at least for yourself that you have more creativity, that you are more like hands on approach, like how has it shown for you, for example, now that you have so taken a look?
Desiree 14:54
Yeah, it's funny actually because I am in that phase right now. Okay. So I've noticed I've come out of the menstrual phase right. So then knowing that I had that down in my calendar and last week I really didn't really didn't do it. I did like sort of the necessary to dos in my business, but I didn't tackle anything new. And I'm still kind of like Ooh, let's see. So this week, I've actually scheduled a few like projects and things I've been meaning to do but that really require me to sit down and tune in and be creative and you know, design a few things here and there. So I wanted to put that in this week to see and it's true I feel like that I was like oh my god I can't wait to open up my laptop today. You know, Can't wait. I'm going to put all my messages on mute. I'm going to you know, finally start this new sequence I've wanted to do I'm going to design my sales page that I wanted to do because I really feel driven to do these things and to get them done. It's quite amazing.
Iva 16:00
To see that it seems to have that a goal. And it matches a lot of what this phase is supposed to look like. For us.
Desiree16:10
It's exactly. So then the ovulation phase is the next one right and again, can be overlapping completely starting a little bit earlier or starting a little bit later. But sort of I look at my 12-week plan and I now move on to planning set wave three. I've kind of circle it in there. Of course it can start already in week two, right? But I kind of that's for me just the ease of planning. I kind of put that into week three and so that's when the hormonal peak of testosterone gives you an outward focused energy while the estrogen peak makes you feel super energetic and also proactive right? So think of yourself as like this go-getter saying yes, being a social butterfly, you know being out amongst people a little bit more. And this is a super, duper great time to schedule meetings, important meetings and like also maybe take tougher decisions and maybe have like tougher conversations that maybe you've managed to do that you know, whether it's like with someone you're working with or even someone like socially, but that's sort of your time that you can probably also quite level headed and with enough energy and focus to go through these things and you know, have those meetings and everything. And it's usually the most extroverted time for most women. So that's ideal to like working with groups of people. If you're usually sort of more introverted you'd like to keep to yourself, but you know, there's something you've been meaning to do because you know, like, let's say putting together a workshop or putting together like a meet up that you have scheduled with people and that you're usually not so keen on doing depending on your own personality. This would probably be the phase where you want to do that because you feel the most extroverted. And if you have a huge project, let's say that you've been working on it's also like the perfect time to take that on. So for me sometimes it's like a continuation of the previous cycle. So I kind of schedule my important things in these two weeks, like week two and week three, where I just work on them, and have them like actively on a scheduled time to get these things done. And I also actually, I have a call planned with someone from my mastermind program, someone that's mentoring me, and we wanted to tackle this new strategy so I actually booked that in for next week. So next week is sort of my ovulation phase. So that's, that's when I booked it and let's see how it goes. I felt like that was the best time to tackle that.
Iva 19:22
And this is about harnessing what the body is already doing behind the scenes, right? It's about using all the hormones in the combinations that are coming in phase after phase after phase, to really maximize the work, the effort, the attention the energy that we're putting in the things that we're doing in our day to day. So it's like, we're stacking up I love that you are bringing this awareness of saying like, look, we are in this body anyway. There's no other choice but to follow what nature has intended for us to experience as women. And so if nature is going through this series of combinations of hormones that present themselves differently within the cycle, because every part of the whole cycle, meaning from when you first start, let's say to bleed using that as week one and then moving forward. It has its own set of functions and purposes for our body, you know, biologically speaking, so why not use that to our advantage? And stack up on top of that, especially if we are Mom Bosses that, you know, we have a lot of things to do, but we can also have the flexibility to be strategic and I love that that is what you're saying, you know, you're being strategic. You could have said ‘oh, you know, I'll just book this this meeting with my mentor any day available’, you just look at your calendar and you say oh yeah, I have space here, but you're being intentional and you're being strategic about it even though you might have a space this week, I know that looking at my cycle synergies, then next week is best.
Desiree 21:26
Because imagine like I booked it sort of during my menstrual phase and I get like easily triggered and let's say she says something that she means in the most loving, most constructive feedback sort of way, I'll get super defensive and I'll be like, No,
Iva 21:39
Yes, you know, you're menstruating, she's ovulating. And she's coming from this you know, from this high vibe energy like let's do this, the hands on you know all these things. And you're more sensitive, right? You're feeling all the feelings in that moment. So, yeah, it could create a little bit more of miscommunication, right.
Desiree 22:09
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Unintentional, right. And I really believe you know how sometimes they say that your cycles with the person that you're really close to sync up after a while. I really believe that's also because I really know how that works right biologically, but I really believe that because you share like similar energies, you're like high and that's also infectious. And then you get like on a high vibe, and then a low vibe. I don't know. I feel maybe that has some Yeah, it was it too.
Iva 22:41
Yeah, I'm not sure. I don't know if it's been properly documented on this day and age but I remember even when I was younger, that it was already something that people had in the radar of saying like when women come together, you know, their cycles will naturally in sync. So like it has to follow some truth.
Desiree 23:09
So then we move into the last phase, which is the luteal phase. And that is when both again, just keeping that really summarized but like estrogen and progesterone levels rise, and the progesterone is reaching its highest highest peak. And progesterone really has a calming effect, meaning that your mind will probably be a little bit slower. Your productivity levels are a little bit lower than maybe in the previous two phases. And it's like a natural winding down time. At the end of this phase and the end of this luteal phase is also then associated with the PMS when it starts like you know move on slowly into the menstrual cycles. So during this phase, prioritize self-care once again. Cue your favorite rom com if you do like to relax with a little bit of TV in the evening. Lighten your workload. Just do yourself that favor just to avoid any frustrations and do when if you are an exercising person do really more gentle things like go for a walk or swim you know high intensity things. And so use this time wisely in your business as well to do like simpler tasks, things that you that require like less active brainpower or you can edit things, or you know, you can catch up on like admin things that you have pending or just catching up and work like working more quietly for yourself. And I have personally then use this phase now to prepare things to allow me then to really rest during my menstrual cycle and take that week super slow. But knowing for example, my newsletters been prepped, like all the podcast things we need to do, have been prepped things that I have, like, organized or that are like, you know, regular things I need to do. I've already prepped it during this phase. And that has also helped me to really just embrace the time where I'm slowing down knowing I don't have anything to feel guilty about. You know, I've already prepped for what I needed to do.
Iva 25:35
Because that's a big one. In terms of we tend to be very, sometimes critical of what we have accomplished and we take stock of what hasn't been checked off or what we haven't really finalized in in our projects or to-do lists that we had intended to. And instead, as you say, going naturally with the synching of our cycle and realizing that it's time to wind down a little bit and to just take the foot off the of the pedal, we buckled down because now we're realizing oh my God still so much to do now I really need to press myself for more performance and more action, when actually the body is requiring different energy to it. So that's where we also as you say, reach a level of frustration or we're just not feeling it and then he becomes this domino effect and we're not feeling it. We feel frustrated. Then we go into what is wrong? And then we start telling ourselves stories that are not helping us and when we're able to see it so that's why I love that you are putting it in a way where you say look, if I'm able to just provision for the coming week, which I know that I am naturally going to take it slower and they provision this week but in a gentle way. Then I will sustain that sense of I am doing as much as I possibly can and it is fine.
Desiree 27:26
You know, at least, I get a sense that something was done or something was automated or something has been provisioned so that I don't feel overwhelmed later on.
So, I mean, we as a mom, right? We can always control our kids like how they're feeling what they're up to the energy levels, they're like, thriving and we can control their activities going on that week or the things and the family schedule, right. But what we can control is the pace and the flow in our own business. So let's start to kind of control what we can because there's already so much going on in our busy lives, you know where we just have to read you'd have to go with that as well. So I think that's really I think it's really helped me a lot to just be just a bit more mindful of what's happening around me. Yeah, so as a summary, like doing what I do, just to make it super easy for me to remember and easy for me to plan out if I have my big calendar in front of me but I have my 12 week. years I take it sort of four weeks at a time. So during the first week, I take it super easy. Then the following two weeks after that I try to be as productive as possible with my projects and my meetings. My events, my social commitments. Also, I feel like this is just me as well personally, I'm naturally more productive when I'm busy. So this works well for me, right? I embrace these two weeks where I can just move faster. And then in the following week and sort of week four I like to stay a little bit more on my own and work and edit and prep. And in preparation of slowing down again, when I come to planning my week five in that plan
Iva 29:37
And so just a little bit as a review, and we'll put in the show notes to link to the episode where we really did dive deep into what is a 12-week year but just in a nutshell, is that you grab 12 weeks and each week is considered it's like the equivalent of a month. Right? So it's like a mental construct.
So it's like a mental construct. So that week equals like a month. And then you evaluate yourself based on what your own KPIs are like, what are your markers like? What are the, tasks that you want to tick off on that week? And you evaluate yourself against that at the end of that week to mark your progress and to see what was left or actually accomplished and so forth. But it's a great way to be strategic on a macro scale to say like, you know, if this were to take me a year's time to complete, it's like a long-term project, and I really break it down into 12 weeks. What would that look like week by week? And then day, by day, by day? And what this is doing so the brilliant aspect of this conversation is that on those 12 weeks, she has superimposing which week belongs to which cycle \ of the menstrual cycle, so that she can understand, you know, if this week is the week before menstruating, which is the last one that we spoke about, where you are naturally slowing down. Then I would naturally guess that that week where you have set up for yourself are going to be less things possibly, and you're not going to be so ambitious in what you want to complete during that week because you are allowing yourself that space. And I love what you said just earlier to be in that flow to be in that pace, that you are naturally in any way because your body is in that state. So this ties up so beautifully with the mantra so to speak of the Mom Bosses Abroad, that we speak about in different ways, but it's the seasons of life. And sometimes we are much more aware of the seasons of life that are happening outside of us. Like Desiree said, our kids are going through a very active stage of growth spurt. You know school is super busy. Or things are happening with the family or there's some move right or there's a new job or whatever that may be. And one of the things that we like to remind our beautiful mamas is, you know, there are seasons in our life and we sometimes need to harmonize more with where we are, rather than fight it and try to make it into the season that we want to be in because it might not be possible. So it's more like going with the flow of what is happening outside. But this takes it one level deeper into saying like what is happening inside anyway, right? Like what is happening yeah, biologically inside of me, so that I can find a way to be in flow and in harmony with that as well. And then you brilliantly superimpose it on your work plan. This is using the 12-week year approach. You might find other methods and other ways of strategizing what you want to accomplish., but at the end of the day, if you have this level of awareness in your calendar and you know exactly what's going on inside of you_I haven't tried it so this claimer I'm learning as I go here that's why I love this episode because this is Des sharing her findings and she's making me actually going to like yeah, you know, I haven't tried that. I haven't been as aware of my cycles. For a while already. I haven't really been that mindful. And now that you're talking about it, it's like it's so true. Like what would happen if I did? So this conversation is really to allow you to go into that space of saying like have I tried it? Have I tried it this way? Right? Have I have I tried this approach and just go for it and explore it and see what comes out and maybe you find incredible insights, maybe you find incredible things that become sort of like the new rule of thumb, like for these days I know better now than to schedule important meetings or calls because there will probably be miscommunication. And those are the things that we can be more proactive about and I love that we can diminish and reduce as much as possible the chances of error, of mistakes, of miscommunication, of a feeling frustrated of having more guilt than we already pile upon ourselves anyway. So that we can just become lighter that we can flow more that we can be more in harmony with what is going on, on all levels, like what's going on outside what's going on with the kids what's going on at work, but also what is going on inside of us. And I think this is the power of what you have shared.
Desiree 36:27
Yeah. So yeah, I'm really excited to hear and try it out. I'm sure you will find your own kind of ways and techniques and I'm so curious to keep learning and keep hearing what works best. So yeah, you can just be as productive as possible as a busy Mom Boss Abroad.
Iva 36:50
Oh, thanks, Desiree for doing this experiment on all of our behalf so that you can report back and let us know about your findings. reporting back about your findings and your and you know, the research that you have done. And so thank you for sharing this this really has made the wheels in my head start to spin in a good way. So we cannot wait to catch you in the next episode.
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