4 easy tips to have a better period
Periods - love them or hate them, we all get them and you’ll have anywhere between 350 and 500 of them in your lifetime. For some, those few days each cycle are inconsequential and even blissful, but for others, periods can come with a whole lot of upset. Migraines, cramps, heavy bleeding, nausea, vomiting and bloating are just a few of the disruptions that can come with your monthly bleed, but I have good news: it doesn’t have to be this way!
Your period shouldn’t interfere with your every day life
Your menstruation is a healthy, integral part of your cycle, and while some discomfort is normal, having to take strong painkillers, being in pain and having to take time out of of your life to deal with it is not. If you’re concerned about the severity of your flow, pain or anything else, please do see your doctor. If you’re suffering with your monthly bleed, here are three tips:
Rest!
It sounds basic, I know. But hear me out! Bleeding on your period isn’t like bleeding from a cut wound. It’s actually made up of only about 36% of blood and the other 64% includes the lining of your womb, mucus and bodily tissue (statistics from the National Library of Medicine). This is no small process, and add that the fact that your hormones are at the lowest point in your cycle, it’s no wonder you might feel rough at this time. Women have been conditioned for a long time to power through our periods with adverts showing us how we can continue to swim, rollerblade and work at top efficiency while bleeding, and while we can, doesn’t mean we should!
As a Menstrual Cycle Awareness coach, the first thing I’ll look at is whether you’re allowing yourself menstrual rest. It doesn’t have to mean taking days off each month, but giving yourself just 1% more rest - time for a bath, sleeping earlier/later, asking your partner to cook or a friend to pick up the kids from school, taking a restorative yoga class - these are all ways of giving yourself time to rest. Downtime at this point in your cycle can give your body time to regenerate and allow your nervous system to recuperate.
Check your nutrition
If you tend to feel weak and fatigued, and experience heavy bleeding, it might be a good idea to have a blood test to check your iron levels. Blood loss (remember that 36%?) can contribute to anaemia, which is where you’ll have an iron deficiency. Iron can be sourced via your diet (spinach and leafy greens, lentils, meat and eggs to name a few), or with iron supplements. Another culprit in contributing to period woes is magnesium. Magnesium is important for your hormones, and can help a lot when it comes to cramps and headaches. Again, you can source this via supplements or food, in the form of nuts, seeds and cacao (affiliate link). Another great way of getting more magnesium is with Epsom salts. These are great to add to your bath, can ease muscle ache and have the added bonus of giving you some time out, too!
Move your body
Switching up your yoga and gym practice for something like a restorative class in those days of your cycle can help your muscles, organs, nervous system and and emotional body a chance to relax, and help reduce things like bloating, cramps, backache and headache. Yoga stimulates your endocrine system (hormones) and massages your internal organs, all of which can be a crucial game-changer in how you experience your bleed. Restorative is a great way to practice as it’s completely accessible if you’re new to yoga or injured and has the double benefit of adding a much needed dose of rest in your cycle. The good news is, I’ve got a free 20-minute class waiting for you, right here. If you’re a regular yogi, you can also join the Your Flow Yoga Membership and get classes designed for every single phase of your cycle to practice with at home.
Start tracking your cycle
Most women track their periods, but this is only telling a tiny proportion of your cycle story. How you live in the other stages of it can have a big impact on how your period feels when it comes. Like most things, being in flow with something as opposed to struggling against it can make everything so much easier. Menstrual Cycle Awareness can help shed light on recurring patterns, create a stronger bond to yourself and your cycle, and help change your mindset about it. It opens up a dialogue with your body that can help identify emotions and unresolved issues that might also be manifesting as physical pain and discomfort. Tracking is free and easy, and you can start today with my free guide.
So, there you go - 4 easy tips to have a better period. Are you already incorporating any of these into your cycle and routine?
If you’re curious about applying menstrual cycle awareness to your life, you can schedule a free 30min call with me or check out my coaching space.