Reminders for That Time of the Month
I just wrapped up a very volatile, very moody, and very painful period cycle and wanted to share a few things I always remind myself when it’s that time of the month:
It’s OKAY if you’re not up for movement. If you’re feeling up for a walk or a run or a lifting session, by all means go for it! But if all you can do is lay in bed all day, that’s perfectly ok. Listen to your body and remind yourself that there’s no need to push it if you’re simply not in the right headspace or physical state to do so.
If your appetite is larger than normal, honor it & eat more! There’s always 1-2 days on my period where my hunger levels feel insatiable, and I used to feel ashamed for eating more during this time of the month. But I realized our bodies are very hard at work to shed that lining so it’s important to fuel up to support the energy being expended on this work!
Bloating is SO normal. A lot of foods I can normally tolerate any other time of the month seem to affect my digestion differently on my period, and my clothes seem to fit a bit more snuggly as well. I make sure to wear comfier clothing during this time of the month since my perception of my body tends to be more judgemental. Remind yourself it is temporary, you don’t need to eat less, and that again, your body is doing HARD WORK shedding a lining! so OFC your body is going to be impacted 🙃.
If you tend to be moodier this time of the month, let the people around you know! I tend to have a shorter tempter than normal and need more alone time, so I make sure to vocalize this to my fam and friends to prevent unnecessary tension and/or fights.
Be sure to fully feel your emotions! For me, this is the time of the month where anything I’ve been repressing surfaces back up (which usually results in several crying seshes). You’re not too sensitive or emotional. Let it all out, and don’t judge any emotions that arise. The only way to work through something entirely is to grant yourself permission to feel it fully!