Seasons in the Workforce

“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” -William Pollard

So I’ve been thinking about how I can run a workforce that supports the different seasons of the menstrual cycle. This is what’s coming to mind at first thought. It may need tweaking, and I think this works more for entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, or people who schedule their own work week.

Winter (5 days) Low workload. Soft planning. Self-reflection: what’s working? What do you need? If possible, remote work or no work.

Spring (6 days) writing down plans, in-person work but minimal meetings.

Summer (8 days) starts bringing plans together, in-person meetings, networking, and connecting.

Fall (9 days) Wrap up connections and, if needed, set dates for next summer phase, and prepare to slow down for winter week of low workload/remote work/no work. Meal prep dense stews and soups.

The next challenge will be to make this more general so that this workforce can be applied on a larger scale.

I should be asking does your job support the different seasons? Is is capable of supporting them?

Four Seasons

“Getting to know your cycle better means getting to know yourself better. And there’s a great deal of power in that.” – Olivia Salter taken from Your Menstrual Cycle Seasons Explained

I’ve learned about the different phases of our cycle in health class, but I never learned about them being called seasons. I also didn’t learn how to eat for each phase. I was just told to eat lots of dark leafy greens and drink water, but isn’t that all the time? I’m going to create a meal plan and workout routine based around the different phases. Yesterday I mentioned the phases, which were referred to as Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Today, I wanted to give a little more detail.

Winter – This is the start of your cycle.
Most articles suggest this is the time to skip plans, rest, and get plenty of complex carbs and lean proteins.

Spring – The follicular phase, once the winter phase is over, the inner spring phase begins!
It’s suggested that this is a great time to catch up with friends and make sure you eat foods such as beans, eggs, grass-fed meat, oily fish, and fermented foods like kimchi. These things help you better metabolize estrogen.

Summer – Everyone loves summer. This is the ovulation phase. This season sees oestrogen peaking as you ovulate, so you’ll be looking and feeling your best with glowing skin, high libido, and abounding confidence. I can’t think of anything better than that! To buffer against PMS symptoms, try to include more sources of fiber to remove excess oestrogen. Think of all things plant-related: fruits, veggies, legumes, pulses, nuts, seeds, and fresh herbs.

Fall – The luteal phase. During this phase, energy levels fall; it is common to feel sluggish or forgetful. Before hibernation, animals increase their food intake. And you should feel inspired to do the same. Choose healthy, nourishing, whole-food options to sustain your energy levels. Some other suggestions were Brazil nuts, shellfish, and broccoli for the chromium. Go for dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa for the magnesium.

Here’s some links where I found the information in case you’d like to explore with me!

https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/our-blog/understanding-the-seasons-of-your-menstrual-cycle/

https://www.ion.ac.uk/news/the-menstrual-cycle-a-seasonal-guide#:~:text=A%20menstrual%20cycle%20is%20a,is%20the%20pre%2Dmenstrual%20phase.

https://ovabalance.eu/en/blogs/artikelen/hormoon-cyclus-uitgelegd#:~:text=Winter%2C%20or%20menstruation%2C%20lasts%203,again%20and%20menstruation%20follows:%20winter.

Femininity, I Remember You

Femininity, I remember you.

Now that I’m learning more about my cycle, I’m realizing that everything should be more of a weekly rotation. It’s not about going hard in the am 3-5 times a week and resting on the weekend, like we’ve all been taught. While men have daily phases (morning, noon, and night), women have weekly phases that are referred to as seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. This is wild for me because what, there’s nothing wrong with us. We would thrive in a world that respects and honors our cycle. Just imagine being like:

“Man, it’s dead in the middle of winter season for me, professor, I cannot handle this workload right now.

And they say, “I totally understand. Let’s do some review so you get the practice, and we’ll work on the heavy mental lifting in a week or so.” Mind blown!

I feel kind of silly talking about this, but it’s crazy because I shouldn’t feel silly for desiring a world that honors women’s cycles.

This is a more complex machine than I realized. I mean, it may only feel complex because I never synced anything to my cycle. All these small details can feel overwhelming, so I’m going to take it one day at a time.

My goal with cycle syncing is to learn

  • What foods I should eat
  • What physical movement I should focus on
  • what type productivity is best

Each cycle has its own thing; for example, there’s one phase that’s best for networking and taking action. Another phase is more about gentle planning with no action, introspection, and rest. I’m loving this journey and where my path to embracing my femininity is taking me.

A Timestamp

“It’s never too late to go after what you desire. Middle age isn’t an endpoint. It’s simply a timestamp for you to get out there and accomplish those long-standing goals.” -Stephanie Valente from The Good Trade

Just another blog to prepare me for turning 40. To keep this transition grounded, I’m looking into femininity, feminism, cycle syncing in leadership, and preparing myself to turn 40. It’s all funneled here onto this blog just for you. Now I know this might narrow down my readership, but I’m always down for a solid group of badass women and men who support the full spectrum of feminine power.

Any tips for turning 40?

Intentional Gentleness

“In my 40th year, I feel like I’ve only just mastered the art of not being too hard on myself regarding what I feel I ‘should’ be doing.” -Casey Powney Taken from Louise Haywood-Schiefer’s artcle “I Accept Myself for Who I Am’: People at 40 on What Life has Taught Them so Far.”

This fall, I’ll be saying goodbye to my thirties. I’ll be ushering in my forties. So I started looking for different articles I can share that will be part of my transition into my forties. The quote I shared is from a woman who went on a quest to find 40 others who were born the same year as her. One of the women, Casey Powney, was among the forty she interviewed and shared her words of wisdom. This is what I have been working on for years, and I’d happily bring intentional gentleness into my future.

What are you interested in bringing with you?

Art as a Rebellion

“In this passionate and empowering TEDx talk, writer and creative coach Amie McNee challenges the idea that art is frivolous or indulgent in difficult times. She argues that creativity is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Art calms us, connects us, and gives us purpose. It heals our bodies, minds, and communities. More than that, it’s an act of rebellion, a tool for hope, and a legacy that outlasts us all.” -Her Ted Talk Summary – Link below

One of my favorite IG writers just did a TEDx talk, and I’m so excited to listen to it. Amie McNee inspires me so much as a writer. She is super encouraging, and it almost feels like she’s working alongside all of us writers. On her IG, she said, “Art is activism.” And I’m digging that. If I want to change the world, I make art, and that’s really all there is to it. She inspires me in so many ways, and I’m grateful that I get to see her writing journey! Go, Amie!

Our Inner Mindset

“The most life-shaping choices we can make are those of our mindset — we can choose the best orientation toward the world, we can choose the best orientation toward each other, but where we seem to struggle the most is orienting with clarity and compassion toward our own lives, toward the choice we have in the dialogue between our inner world and our circumstances.” -Maria Popova

This week has been all about reclaiming myself, my time, and my energy. My stress level has dropped significantly since I refocused. All because I learned how to honor my cycle. Before this week, I thought I was honoring my cycle, but trying to act like I feel normal when my body is screaming for rest and low lighting, is in fact, not honoring my cycle.

If I want to be part of a workforce that creates a space for women to thrive, I must understand who what when where makes me thrive. Once I understand myself, it will help me better support the women around me no matter what phase they are in.

Thanks for reading,

If you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the quote.

The Missing Key

“I really believe understanding the menstrual cycle is a missing key in the wellbeing and creative output of women.” -Claire Baker

What?! Now I need to know more. It has never even crossed my mind to think about my cycle in terms of my writing. I know there are some times I feel like writing more than others, but I never thought about the different phases of my cycle and comparing them to what I’m writing. This could help. Like maybe one week could share reflective writing, while the other could be focused on making connections and networking, while the other could be more focused on an informational type of writing that requires some research.

This cycle syncing is a whole new world for me. I’m diggin it. Have you heard of cycle syncing?

Last Day of April

I am totally easing my way through this last day of April. Will that slow down time? Probably not, but it increases my well-being. Rushing around isn’t good for your heart or your brain (especially during this upcoming finals week). This week, as we transition into a new month, I’ll be taking walks, sipping butterfly tea, and focusing on reflection.

There’s a lot that I want, and my ambitious side just wants to get it all done. That’s okay. I like and accept my drive, but that’s not for this week. This week, I’ve committed to taking my time.

Are you ready for May?

Easing My Way Through Spring

Affirmation: “I welcome my emerging visions without rushing them into action.”

With a million things to do to prep for summer and other transitions coming up in my life, my goal this week is to take things slow and stay in the present. Some things I had to remind myself this evening: I have everything I need right now. I have softness in my home and safety in my relationships. I’ve made it through all my worst days.

What positive things are you telling yourself today? If you haven’t told yourself anything yet, what could you tell yourself now?