Is your energy all over the place? Do you never know what to expect- tons of energy or no energy at all? Do you think you should be 100%-on at all times?
Energy just doesn’t work like that. We all have a finite amount of energy and time. The best we can do is to use our energy wisely.
The first thing we need to be aware of is energy-suckers. These are things that take energy from you but don’t give you anything in return.
They are:
1. Stress
2. Faux foods- refined sugars, refined flours, and refined vegetables oils
Eating a whole food diet is super important. The easiest way to do this is JUST EAT REAL FOOD. Processed food is a faux food with all the nutrients damaged or removed. Read the ingredient lists and avoid the ones with a small novel on the back, acronyms, or words you can’t pronounce. Keep it simple and stick to the outer edges of the grocery store. The food in the center of the store is usually more processed. Spend your time in the produce section, meat and dairy counters, and bulk foods.
There are many forms of stress. The one I want to cover today is OVERWORK. Seriously, it’s epidemic. I bet you suffer from it sometimes too. I want to talk about your energy cycles in your period. Here is how to build your work/project flow around your period so you can get the best results and reduce stress and overwhelm.
You are not meant to have 100% energy at all times. You are not meant to be “on” all the time. Just like your wake and sleep cycles, you need to have time where you are resting and slowing down.
If you’re someone who tracks your periods, and I highly recommend that you do, you’ll find that throughout the month, you have more energy towards the end of your period flow up through that second or third week in your cycle. And, then you find your energy begins to decrease a little bit as you go towards menstruation. This is completely normal. This is the ebb and flow of energy that will help you be more productive if you embrace it and work with it.
Here’s the breakdown:
One week to a few days before your period through your flow-time:
Your energy will begin to decrease. In fact, we’re supposed to slow down and rest around our menses. This is a great time to slow down and have some time for introspection.
Action Tips:
1. Journal – Check in and ask:
How are you doing?
How are you doing in this month?
How have you been doing with making the choices to show yourself love and grace?
Have you been giving yourself the time to be able to rest, heal, and listen?
2. Take a nice hot bath with Epsom salts. This great to do every couple of days as a way to nourish yourself. The added benefit of Epsom salts is they reduce cramping.
3. Castor oil packs after your bath time.
4. Eat lots of good fats like butter or ghee, coconut oil, avocados, fish, and pasture-raised meat and eggs.
5. Reduce or remove caffeine.
As your flow stops and through the 3rd week of your cycle
This is a great time to be more active and act on projects that require more energy.
Action Tips:
1. Play outside more
2. Step up your exercise routine
3. Ask for what you need from others- you tend to be more confident at this time and confidence is powerfully alluring to others.
4. Increase your green veggies and good fats.
5. Dry skin bushing is a great support for helping your body get rid of waste.
The core to self-care is learning to listen. Allowing yourself more down time around your period is a gift that you can give yourself. It helps you not become worn out and exhausted.
A Personal Invitation from Dr. Allegra Hart:
Often, it helps to get out of your current environment and step into a new space. A physical relocation, even a short hiatus can prove a magical boost to your mental and physical energy. I’ve created just the space to help you reset this autumn. A retreat, just for women, help you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually reset, flow, and glow, is the perfect path toward deeper joy. I challenge you to take a long weekend, with me just for you to cultivate greater balance in your life. If you are drawn to apply, get more information here.
Create a life flow that supports your flow. Create a flow of life and events that are going to be mindful of your cycles so that you can respect those natural rhythms and undulations in your energy. Respecting your natural rhythms allows you to relax into and enjoy life at deeper level. We all deserve this and YOU do too!
Dr. Allegra Hart is a naturopathic physician, author of Nourishing Space Within: Essentials of Self-Care, and founder of Naturae Naturopathic Clinic. She specializes in taking you on a journey through self-care and nourishment toward optimum health. Her passion is to help you rebuild your health from the inside out through empowering you with more energy, better digestion, better moods, and greater flexibility-mentally, physically, and emotionally. Learn more about building your health at naturaeclinic.com and get a free masterclass to help you balance your hormones naturally.