Hello loves,
It's cycle day 24 here and the time of my cycle where I find myself preparing for my period in around four or five days time. I'm getting myself organised, wrapping things up and starting to tune out from the outside world. I'm getting ready.
Being aware of when I'm likely to start bleeding means that it's less likely I'll be caught by surprise and allows me to make sure I'm prepared as much as possible to be able to welcome her (yes my period & cycle is a she for me) with open arms and a deep understanding that this is our time together to rest, nourish and replenish, instead of banging down the door to menstruation completely exhausted and frazzled.
So I thought now would be a good time to share some of my period prep with you. Here's what I do during my mid to late pre-menstrual phase, so from around day 24 of my cycle:
Check my diary to see what activities, meetings and appointments I have scheduled in for the the rest of the week and during my bleed. Then I ask myself whether these plans still feel good for me or if anything needs tweaking or re-arranging.
For example, an appointment with your dental hygienist may not seem so appealing to you right now (I'm not a fan of being poked and prodded around when bleeding) or maybe you decide that a cosy supper at home with a girlfriend is a much more pleasurable prospect than a group gathering at cocktail happy hour at a noisy bar right now.
This is ok. Say no where you need to, re-arrange for another time and enjoy the plans you choose to keep, staying present in your body as much as you can.
Do a shop - This has been so helpful to be able to know I have good quality food in the house for period snacks. My go-to's are some gorgeous dates (I cover them in dark chocolate mixed with rose extract and decorate with edible petals on top) fancy chocolate cos it's nice to treat yourself when you're bleeding, homemade soups and sourdough, rose tea and hot chocolate or cacao.
I like to make sure I'm stocked up on my favourite candles and bath salts to support my bleed too so ordering anything for delivery in time for my bleed is another must do for me, along with washing my favourite blanket to keep me warm. I love my bleed to be a sensory experience where possible and find comfort in the smells, textures and tastes I surround myself with.
Batch cook nourishing meals - This is prep that can be done earlier in your cycle, say around ovulation when you may be feeling more 'doing' energy or the days leading up to bleeding as part of getting ready to bleed. It's best to eat nutrient rich and warming foods when your bleeding to encourage blood flow so think soups, stews, casseroles, curries, risottos, maybe a big lasagne if, like me you think carbs are life!
Think of dishes and cuisines you love to eat and that make you feel nourished and well. Then, cook a big batch and freeze a couple of portions so that you have a variety of meals ready to defrost and tuck into when you're bleeding for minimum effort and maximum pleasure!
I'll share more period prep tips with you soon but thought these would be enough to get you going.
I also wanted to share with you a snippet from a previous newsletter not published here about how I’ve navigated a particularly busy week in the lead up to and during my bleed in the past. Yes, even menstrual cycle coaches have times where we simply cannot sync our cycle/bleed to what's going on in our lives! This is ok. There's no such thing as a perfect cycle or perfect period.
Menstrual Cycle Awareness is not about micro managing our cycles. It's about being aware of where we are in our cycle on any given day and doing the best that we can with the resources that we have available with no guilt, absolutely zero, never ever.
This week I'll be coaching clients, hosting a workshop, attending a local networking event and attending a physio appointment. Not a typical week at this point in my cycle for me at all. Instead of pushing myself or feeling guilty (inner critic screaming - how did you let this happen woman?!) I choose to accept that this cycle the lead up to and first couple of days of my period will be different for me.
It's this quiet inner knowing that I'll lean on to support me through until I can drop and rest. I won't be pushing myself to coach clients or facilitate a workshop in the same energy as I would if I were in a higher energy phase of my cycle. This doesn't mean I won't do my best, but maybe my best that day will be showing up in a slower, calmer, quieter energy instead of putting on a mask to power through the day.
It will feel different for me, it may feel different for clients and the women who attend my workshop. I'll still be showing up as me, just the woman who's honouring her bleed version of me.
Showing yourself kindness, patience and love when you bleed is particularly powerful and that's what I hope you'll gift yourself when you find yourself bleeding on a busy schedule. Consider this your permission slip from me to do so. Then, when the blessed moment arrives where you can drop into your period cave, even if just for a half an hour bath or a quiet cuppa, take a deep breath, revel in these moments that are just for you and know that you have returned home to your body once more.
Here's some inspiration for your own period prep:
I love this bath oil and salts for a treat when I'm bleeding
These are delicious and where my inspiration for my date snack comes from
This is one of my favourite period meals
I'd love to know if you give any of these a try when preparing for your next bleed, so don't be shy to hit reply on this email and share your period prep with me and our community here.
I hope you have a beautiful week and speak soon!
