how to balance productivity with self-care during your period
Written by Thalia-Maria Tourikis
Let me start off by saying it’s completely normal to have days when you feel like crap. It’s also completely normal to have days when you feel unmotivated, unenergized and unproductive.
Especially when you’re on your period.
Let’s face it, periods aren’t always a breeze. They can be painful, annoying, lonely, emotional, expensive and long.
And unfortunately, because of the way society regards periods, women are just expected to “deal with them.”
And that’s exactly what we do month after month.
We pop pills to suppress our cramps, we hide our emotions so we don’t annoy anyone, we apologize for our mood swings, and we’re constantly on edge in case we leak through our clothes. We spend a fortune on sanitary products, we panic when our periods come early and panic when our periods come late. And if we complain about them, then we’re seen as weak and dramatic.
But I’m here to gently remind you that it’s ok if you feel deflated by your period.
They’re not easy.
It’s ok if you feel extra sensitive during your cycle.
It’s ok if you lack energy and all you want to do is curl up in bed and do nothing.
You shouldn’t expect yourself to show up with the same energy or motivation that you have when you’re not on your period.
Especially after the last 18 months. The pandemic was tough on our mental health and it emotionally drained us.
So it’s about time we started to treat our menstrual bodies with a bit more respect; learning to be kinder to our emotions, hormones and uterus.
why creating balance is essential during your period
Although I’m a huge advocate for self-care and cherish slow days, I’ve also been in the position where I feel incredibly guilty for taking time off during my period.
I can’t help but feel that when I’m on my period, self-care is sometimes unwanted. I’m not intentionally seeking rest but sometimes I don’t have another choice.
I want to be productive, I want to work but my body won’t let me. I can barely focus, and I find myself getting restless, tending to procrastinate.
But over the past 2 years, I’ve learnt more about how my body works during its cycle, and creating a balance between self-care and productivity has allowed me to feel less guilty.
I no longer force myself to feel better or fight back. Instead, I do things to help me be as productive as I can be on my period while still giving myself the right amount of self-care.
Some of these tips work every time, sometimes they need a little adjustment depending on how you’re feeling and how painful your period is.
Either way, I hope you find some comfort or guidance in these tips.
8 tips to help you balance productivity with self-care during your period
01 learn to understand your hormones
Hormones are complex. They’re temperamental and can be incredibly annoying. But instead of ignoring them and brushing them aside, it’s important to get to know your hormones.
Do your research. Read up on estrogen, progesterone and serotonin. Find out when each one is at its highest or lowest during your cycle.
I highly recommend Flo App as it personalizes your experience, monitors your cycle and helps you to identify your hormonal patterns.
Once you learn more about your hormones you can start to adapt your daily routine to work with your cycle instead of against it. And over time you will be able to figure out when you feel most productive during your cycle and when you want to curl up in bed and just do nothing.
02 listen to your emotions and embrace them
It’s no secret that periods can make you feel emotional.
I usually get hyper-sensitive a week before my period is due and can end up crying at the smallest things. I also get irritated very quickly and the littlest thing can set my temper off.
In the past, my emotions were something I never used to face. I always shrugged them off, blamed my hormones and that was that.
But over the past year, I’ve been making a more conscious effort to take notice of my emotions. I’m now a lot more aware of what triggers my tears and what can set me off.
I also make sure my partner is aware too. A week before my period is due, I tell him to be extra sensitive with me.
So, I can’t stress enough how important it is to track your emotions. Write them down. Figure out why you feel a certain way and learn what triggers it.
Tell the ones you live with or work with when your period is due so they can also understand your mood swings or behavioural changes and be a bit more forgiving.
I guarantee by having this extra support your period will be a lot more bearable!
03 get plenty of sleep
Sleep disturbances are more common when you’re on your period and it’s normal to feel lethargic and drained.
Getting between 7-9 hours of good sleep a night is essential for your mental and physical health on a normal day but during your period it can be a struggle.
I suggest trying to get longer than 7-9 hours when you’re on your period to balance out any sleep you miss during the night. Take a nap during the day if you’re particularly tired or go to bed extra early.
Disable the alarm and have a lie-in. Treat yourself to a long morning where you stay in bed for an extra hour relaxing, reading or watching a bit of Netflix.
Allow yourself the rest you need so you can show up after your period feeling refreshed and ready to go.
04 limit your to-do list to 1-3 manageable tasks a day
There’s nothing worse than being on your period with a never-ending to-do list. We’re naturally more sensitive during our cycle so being faced with endless tasks can elicit unwanted feelings of stress and overwhelm.
Don’t give yourself any more work than you need to do when you’re not feeling your best. Your period and your well-being need to be your main priority.
Don’t overload your to-do list during heavy days and just give yourself 1-3 small but important tasks that you can finish easily.
I also suggest scheduling any meetings, deadlines or client work around your heavy days to take the pressure off.
05 work from your bed or somewhere else that’s comfortable
For me, when I have cramps or back pain the last thing I want to do is sit on a chair in my home office. I want to feel comfy and cozy.
I choose to work from my bed and I feel no shame in doing it. I’ve actually found that I am way more productive when I work from my bed too.
During your next period try out a different work spot. Give your bed a go or even try the couch. See where you feel most comfortable.
And move around too! A change in scenery can work wonders on creativity and help boost focus.
06 nourish your body
It is so important to nourish your body with food and water during your cycle to keep providing you with the energy you need to get through the day.
Try not to be too strict with yourself during your period and give in to those cravings. Whether that’s eating more sugar or white carbs than usual.
Honestly, this will help you feel a heck of a lot better!
Bonus tip - try drinking 1 litre of lemon water as soon as you wake up for a morning energy boost. You will feel immediately more hydrated as well as supplying your body with the vitamin c is needs.
07 treat yourself to a period package
Ask a loved one to put together a period package for you.
Every month my partner goes out and buys me some cookies, red wine and chocolate so I don’t have to worry about not being able to satisfy my cravings (or going to the shops myself).
Receiving a period package will allow you to look forward to your period, and you may even start to enjoy them a little bit more!
Of course, you can be the one in control and create your own period package. There are some great ones online too.
And, it doesn’t have to be food either. It can be absolutely anything that will make you feel a little bit more comfortable during your period.
08 get yourself a pair of period pants!
I’m not even kidding when I say this but wearing period underwear has changed my life.
They’re environmentally and financially friendly. And you will no longer have to worry about buying sanitary products or disposing of them afterwards.
Period pants give you full coverage and you don’t have to worry about leaks on heavy days. That means fewer breaks to the bathroom to change your pad or tampon and more time spent on doing the things you want to be doing!
Whether that’s being productive or indulging in self-care.
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about the author
Hey folks! I’m Thalia, a graphic designer and wellness blogger who has an anti-hustle approach to life. I value calm, peaceful moments and encourage slow living through simplicity, self-care and mindfulness.
Along with being a self-care advocate, I’m a major bookworm, food enthusiast and travel lover. My goal in life is to buy a vineyard in the south of France, drink wine all day and eat bread and cheese while reading in the sunlight.
For more insight into my wellness journey head over to my blog or find me on Instagram and Pinterest. And to create more balance in your life, check out my range of digital planners, designed to put your well-being first.
