Cycle Syncing Method — An Amazing Tool For Perfecting Routines

The cycle syncing method can be an amazing tool when it comes to perfecting your routines. Keep on reading to learn more!

A Bit About The Cycle Syncing Method

The cycle syncing method is one of my favorite things to talk about. It is something that I discovered only pretty recently in my mid-twenties. I learned all about the cycle syncing method from the fantastic book called In The Flo by Alisa Vitti. If you experience menstrual cycles, then I highly HIGHLY recommend that you read this book! It taught me so many things that I didn’t know about my body even though I’ve been getting my period for more than half my life at this point. It is beyond educational and so easy to understand.

I am obviously not a doctor or expert in any way, but I will do my best to describe the gist of this method. (Read the proper explanation here from Alisa Vitti’s blog.)

There are four parts to the menstrual cycle — menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. A typical menstrual cycle will last anywhere from 21 to 35 days, averaging out to be about a month long. During this span of time, we go through the four phases mentioned above. Why? Because the female biochemistry experiences hormonal changes on a monthly basis. Here’s a general idea of what happens in each phase:

• Menstrual Phase
  • This is the time when you have your period
  • Lasts 3-7 days
  • Energy levels are at the lowest
• Follicular Phase
  • This happens after you stop bleeding and is when your body is preparing for ovulation to occur
  • Lasts 7-10 days
  • Energy levels are on the rise
• Ovulatory Phase
  • This is when you ovulate and is the only time you can become pregnant in any given month
  • Lasts 4 days
  • Energy levels are at their highest
• Luteal Phase
  • This is when your body prepares for the menstrual cycle, unless you have become pregnant
  • Lasts 10-14 days
  • Energy levels are higher at the beginning, but begin to dip the closer you get to your period

The main idea here is that women are cyclical beings. Did you notice the energy fluctuation in each cycle? It means that we don’t feel the same way every single day! So how can we expect ourselves to follow the same routines day in and day out?

This is why I encourage you to make multiple routines. Test them out at each part of your cycle, and don’t expect yourself to do something that is out of sync with whatever phase you’re in. Being in sync with our cycle is our superpower as women! It can help us to live easy, gentle lives.

Use The Cycle Syncing Method To Your Advantage!

Now that I’ve learned exactly how my menstrual cycle works, I can’t unsee it. I try to use the cycle syncing method to my advantage as much as possible. It affects so many aspects of my life. Here are some examples:

• Meal planning. Our hormones are fluctuating quite frequently, and there are a lot of different types of food that support these changes. There is an epic food chart in In The Flo that I refer to religiously when I’m meal planning. While it’s not possible or sustainable to eat every recommended food perfectly, I like to make sure my the majority of my meals incorporate at least a few of the items. For example, cabbage and beef are two recommended foods during the luteal phase, so I like to make this Beef and Cabbage Soup from Budget Bytes during that time.
• My exercise for the week. There are certain types of exercise that give more support to our hormonal levels than not. If you run daily, you might notice that some days you beat PRs while you completely drag during others. The best practice is to choose activities that honor our energy levels. When my energy levels are on the rise, I love to do some strength training. But when I’m PMSing or have my period? It’s mostly walks and the occasional nap!
• Prioritizing items on my to-do list. Knowing about the cycle syncing method keeps me in tune with my body. This also helps me to determine when to give myself a break or push forward and get stuff done. I use high energy to my advantage and love to get as much done as I possibly can so that I can relax without guilt when said energy dips.

Cycle Syncing Method Routine Ideas

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but here are a few ways you can tweak your plans and routines in accordance with the cycle syncing method:

• During your menstrual phase…
  • Have an extensive self-care night
  • Reflect on your goals and create new routines for the upcoming month
  • Prioritize rest!
• During your follicular phase…
  • Capitalize on your rising energy and clean your home
  • Conduct brainstorming sessions for any area in your life that needs a creative spark
  • Lean into your more adventurous side
• During your ovulatory phase…
  • Pick a super social seasonal activity to cross off your seasonal bucket list
  • Have your most intense workout sessions at the gym
  • Deepen your relationships
• During your luteal phase…
  • Get your life in order by sticking to your productive routine
  • Focus on getting some extra calories in with the help of meal prepping
  • Listen to your body as your energy levels wane off

Final Thoughts

Have you ever heard of the cycle syncing method before? Will you give it a try? How do you think it will benefit your routines? Let me know in the comments below!

This blog post was all about the cycle syncing method.