Productivity + Your Menstrual Cycle
A conversation with Consciously Cait
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of different folks who are equally passionate about finding more intuitive ways of working and being productive.
One of the more recent introductions has been Caitlin, a menstrual cycle educator / cycle syncing coach and cyclical content creator. The Instagram gods delivered one of her reels to me about a month and a half ago and I knew I needed to work with her.
You know I’m alllll about working within your rhythms… and the rhythms can change, especially for those of us who menstruate. Back in April, I signed up for a 1:1 Menstrual Magic session with her because I wanted to learn how to sync my schedule to my cycle. Blew. My. Mind.
She graciously agreed to share some insights with Rebellious Systems subscribers. If you or someone you love menstruate, this interview is for you!
Our conversation, edited for brevity and clarity, is below.
Andrea: Hi, Caitlin! Thanks so much for agreeing to do this. Let’s start with the basics: What is a cycle syncing coach/what do they do?
Caitlin: Cycle syncing coaches help menstruators work with their menstrual cycle by adjusting different aspects of their lives based on the four phases of the menstrual cycle.
There are many different types of cycle syncing coaches because the menstrual cycle impacts so many areas of our lives. Some focus on nutrition, others focus solely on exercise and others focus on cycle syncing as a whole.
My work is unique because as a cycle syncing coach, I help my clients with productivity, creativity, and the menstrual cycle. I help clients develop cyclical systems around energy management and work together to create content, launch, and project strategies using the power of their menstrual cycle.
“I help clients develop cyclical systems around energy management and work together to create content, launch and project strategies using the power of their menstrual cycle.”
Andrea: That is so cool, and much needed. How did you get started in cycle work/consulting?
Caitlin: I honestly kind of fell into it. I started off as a movement and meditation teacher and I believe this work is a cumulation of my own healing journey. I struggled with self esteem, disordered eating, anxiety, and depression for most of my life. Learning about cycle syncing and about my own body was one of the biggest aha moments of my life — it allowed me to develop a more self-compassionate and trusting relationship with myself.
I quickly realized that most women and menstruators out there do not understand how their bodies work. We were never given a playbook, never taught about the powers of the menstrual cycle. This led me to get certified in women’s health, and now I’d like to think of myself as the sex ed teacher you should have had growing up.
“Learning about cycle syncing and about my own body was one of the biggest aha moments of my life — it allowed me to develop a more self-compassionate and trusting relationship with myself.”
Andrea: Uh yeah, I definitely could have used someone like you in high school. You mentioned earlier that you help people develop “cyclical systems” around energy management. Can you touch on that a bit? Are you saying our menstrual cycles can impact productivity?
Caitlin: Do you ever have those weeks where you feel like you can do everything and anything? You’re crossing off your to-dos, getting ahead on projects, and have energy to go for a run after work? Then the next week, it feels like a chore to get out of bed, everything feels like a struggle, and you keep moving your task list to the next day?
Yeah…. your menstrual cycle could have something to do with that.
Your menstrual cycle is divided into four different phases. Your hormones are in a constant state of change, and impact things like productivity, energy, motivation, and even confidence.
Generally, when estrogen is high, like in the follicular and ovulatory phases, you can feel energetic, motivated, productive, and more social. When progesterone is high, like in the luteal phase (aka: the phase you may experience PMS), you may feel a bit slower, less social, and like you want to nest.
When estrogen and progesterone decline, near the end of your cycle and into your period, you may notice less energy, productivity, and motivation. It’s the perfect time to slow down and take care of yourself.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that doesn’t honor this energy pattern. When we push against our natural hormonal rhythm it can feel even harder to get stuff done, it can also have negative impacts on our hormonal health — cue period pain and pms that make you want to shave your hair off.
“Your hormones are in a constant state of change, and impact things like productivity, energy, motivation, and even confidence.”
Andrea: A lot of my subscribers are creatives/creative entrepreneurs. For those of us who do have agency over our schedules, what does it look like for people who menstruate to schedule around their cycles?
Caitlin: As creatives, we have an opportunity to work with our menstrual cycle so we can sustainability create, grow, and run our businesses.
As mentioned before, the menstrual cycle can be divided into four different phases.
With a little education and experimenting, you can tailor your work schedule around the ebbs and flows of your menstrual cycle. Shall we dig deeper?
The Menstrual Phase:
Hormonally: estrogen and progesterone collapse to their lowest levels
You may notice: bleeding, menstrual pain, moodiness, feeling of letting go, low energy, relief, energy turns inwards
Time to: try constructive dreaming, reflect, take stock and set intentions, see what you can get away with, listen to your intuition & resting
The Follicular Phase:
Hormonally: estrogen is rising. Testosterone boost near the end of the follicular phase
You may notice: increasing energy, creativity, inner spark returned, more optimistic, motivated, may experience anxiety
Time to: dream big, take risks, try new things, plan, strategize & stay open to possibilities
Ovulation:
Hormones: estrogen & testosterone surge. Surging estrogen helps boost mental sharpness, creativity, communication and confidence
You may notice: boost in confidence, things feeling easier, skin clearer, high energy, some people experience bloating and a crash the day of ovulation
Time to: serve others, network, do hard things, put yourself out there, and say YES
Luteal Phase:
Hormones: progesterone takes over and asks you to slow down and turn inwards
You may notice: decrease in energy, focus, productivity & motivation, desire to nest, inner critic, introverted energy, PMS, moodiness
Time to: edit, organize, think critically, set boundaries, deep work
“With a little education and experimenting, you can tailor your work schedule around the ebbs and flows of your menstrual cycle.”
Andrea: This is such rich information. I remember feeling a little overwhelmed when I initially learned this. What first step do you recommend to someone who wants to get started with cycle syncing?
Caitlin: The first step to working with your cycle is to track. Everyone has their own specific experience with their cycle. Everything I offer is simply a guide. It’s up to you to figure out how each phase feels to you.
Track your cycle for at least three months to discover how your phases feel and what they look like. Pay attention to your mood, energy and any physical symptoms you experience. I recommend downloading my personal tracking spreadsheet to get started!
“Everyone has their own specific experience with their cycle…It’s up to you to figure out how each phase feels to you.”
Andrea: Caitlin, thank you so much for doing this. Where can people find you?
Caitlin:
For 1:1 Power Hours: consciouslycait.com/work-with-me
On Instagram: instagram.com/consciouslycait
On TikTok: tiktok.com/@consciouslycait
You can also join the waitlist for The Hot Habit Summer Club. In the club, you’ll learn simple and uncomplicated habits to transform your relationship to your menstrual cycle in a community that gets it.
About Caitlin
Caitlin (she/her) is a menstrual cycle educator / cycle syncing coach and cyclical content creator for all things menstrual & TMI. She approaches health and wellness from an evidence based approach with a sprinkle of woo woo. She now helps passionate, intuitive and brilliant menstruators understand and work with their hormonal rhythm. Think of her as the health teacher you wish you had growing up. She breaks down the menstrual cycle in easy to digest pieces so that menstruators can finally break from feeling like their body is a mystery. She dreams of a world where menstruators view their menstrual cycles as a source of wisdom and power.
Cover photo by Polina Zimmerman
Omg this!
The first membership I created was around helping people market in a way that aligned with the moon phases -- until I realized it wasn't necessarily the moon; it was that my cycle was synced with the moon (and not everyone's is). After working on my eating disorder and getting that (more or less) under control, I saw a natural rhythm with my period and have tried to be more consciously aware of this -- not fighting against my natural rhythm but learning how to observe how my body felt -- and it's SO freeing and grounding.
In a world where menstruating people are shamed for their periods and are taught to hide it and stay productive at all costs, it's such a revolutionary act to listen to and honor our body. 😻