Recently, I decided to ditch the traditional calendar. If you're like me, you can feel a shift in the air. I love the world we live in, filled with incredible resources and opportunities to learn more about ourselves. Every situation reveals something new, even if initially it seems negative at first.

For years, I was unaware of the patterns in my behavior throughout the month. I felt lost, unsure of why I struggled, often feeling like a failure—crying, making poor decisions, and feeling out of control. But then I realized it wasn’t random. These weren’t just emotional swings; they were tied to my cycle and always happened at the same time each month.

At first, I would dread my period, but that discomfort led me to dig deeper. By paying closer attention, I found valuable resources and began tracking my daily emotions and energy levels. This awareness helped me plan more effectively for certain times, especially winter (the period)—preparing meals, taking better care of myself, and allowing extra time for important tasks. Ideally, I’d aim to finish projects before my period started.

I’ve embraced the idea of following my internal cycle, rather than an external calendar. While shared schedules are useful for planning and communication, my hormonal imbalance was a clear sign to align with my natural rhythm. I noticed that communication flows easily during ovulation and tasks are completed quickly. On the other hand my "winter" (my period) is the perfect time for reflection and course correction. This rhythm serves as valuable preparation for the month ahead. Understanding this has allowed me to better nourish and care for myself.

Tracking my emotions, energy, and physical changes daily has given me a clearer view of my cycle. I’ve learned to adjust my self-care based on the phase I’m in. For the first time, I’m truly prepared—scheduling more downtime during my "winter" and recognizing that I don’t need to be as productive and social as I am during my "summer" (ovulation), because the cycle requires different energy. And when my energy rises in "spring," I can easily catch up on tasks and schedule more meetings with friends.

Two amazing resources helped me on this journey: The Optimized Woman by Miranda Gray, which was a game changer, and Sarita Walsh's post on eating for each season of the cycle, which was incredibly insightful.

Implementing this knowledge has transformed everything. I now appreciate the quiet, introspective energy of my "winter," which fosters deep reflection and creativity. I no longer get frustrated when I’m not as vibrant as during ovulation—I’ve learned to honor these natural shifts. And I even started to enjoy it!

In my opinion, every woman should pay attention to her internal cycle. In fact, The Optimized Woman should be required reading for teenagers!

Bullet Journal, here we come—customized to my needs:

• Blue: Winter (Period/ Menstruation)
• Green: Spring (Follicular phase)
• Orange: Summer (Ovulation)
• Yellow: Autumn (Luteal phase)

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