Just like the rest of nature, humans are also cyclical. Our minds and bodies undergo various changes throughout different biological cycles, some of which we don’t even notice.
The cycle you’re probably most aware of is the circadian rhythm: our body’s 24-hour internal clock that moves with the sun. This internal clock causes cyclical changes in our mood, body temperature, digestion, and many other physical, mental, and emotional processes.
However, what most people don’t pay much attention to are their infradian rhythms.
These are biological cycles that last longer than 24 hours and have various phases. Infradian rhythms also appear everywhere in nature; think of hibernation, skin shedding, or migration in the animal kingdom.
The menstrual cycle is a major infradian rhythm most women experience.
Through this cycle, women’s bodies balance their energy and hormones, ultimately making it possible to get or not get pregnant. But what most people don't realise, women's menstrual cycle is about much more than just being on or off their 'period', and getting or not getting pregnant. Of course, this ignorance in science and everyday life is undoubtedly influenced by the ever-present misogyny our species was built on, but let's save that discussion for another time.
Often, we overlook the fact that our bodies are designed to take care of themselves efficiently. And in terms of the menstrual cycle, this means not only to facilitate pregnancy but also to prevent it when conditions are not optimal. If menstruation is delayed, it’s often due to the body experiencing some sort of distress—be it physical, cognitive, or emotional.
The body's primary concern is for its own wellbeing before it can support another life. This is demonstrated by delaying menstruation: a late period isn’t necessarily a late period but rather late ovulation, which in turn delays the period.
Why might ovulation be late? If the body senses that conditions for getting pregnant are far from optimal—such as high stress, injury, or malnutrition—it knows that pregnancy could be risky for both the woman and the potential fetus. Through hormonal adjustments (in other words 'imbalances'), it delays ovulation, making fertilisation impossible for that time, and consequently, the next menstruation is delayed. That's why it's essential to tune into our bodies and recognise its cues—supporting its efforts by showing that we care, understand, and respond.
Moreover, while the menstrual cycle is primarily connected to fertility, it serves a much broader purpose. It plays a major role in regulating our energy levels.
Just as nothing in nature is static, our energy also ebbs and flows.
It's incredible to think of the menstrual cycle as a natural, monthly moderator of our energy that we can predict and embrace. This internal rhythm helps us plan, create, execute, and analyse our actions and the world around us with mindfulness and intention.
By aligning with this cycle, we can create more value, experience life more deeply, and nurture ourselves and others with greater love and passion. Understanding when we are more open to support others and when to receive support allows us to better nourish our relationships. We can also identify when interactions are most valuable and when to focus more on our internal world. When we really tune in, we can notice how each phase gives us the space to explore different ways of thinking, being, and acting. This is what helps our productivity peak mid-way through the cycle, which looks almost like a bell curve, where we can execute so many plans and actions with our energy at its highest point, and use the rest of the month to create new plans, to reflect, and to nurture our bodies with more gentle care, preparing ourselves for the next phase. This cyclical awareness enhances our ability to reflect, adjust, and thrive in harmony with our natural rhythms.
It's important to note that the menstrual cycle isn't the only infradian rhythm we should be aware of.
Many of us notice fluctuations in our moods, energy levels, and even physical appearance with seasonal changes. It's common to feel more energetic, enthusiastic, and extroverted in the summer, and slower and more introspective during the winter months. Similarly, we might feel heavier (both literally and figuratively) in winter and might even experience slight weight gain and hormonal changes. This demonstrates how our bodies work in harmony with nature, functioning as one interconnected system.
However, these seasonal changes can also have more significant impact on our physical and psychological wellbeing. Some individuals experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sometimes referred to as seasonal depression. This condition doesn't affect everyone in the same way; some people may experience mild winter "blues," while others face more severe symptoms, including anxiety, fatigue, hopelessness, loss of interest in usual activities, and difficulties with sleep and concentration.
Women are believed to be affected by SAD more often, though this may be debated due to the societal stigma surrounding men's mental health.
SAD is thought to be caused by several factors related to seasonal changes, primarily a lack of sunlight and disruptions to our biological clock influencing changes in melatonin and serotonin.
This is why cycle syncing is so important.
By tuning into our bodies, listening to what they need and when they need it, and ultimately adjusting our day-to-day lives accordingly, we can better support our overall health and wellbeing. We can know WHY we feel the way we feel at certain times, we can give ourselves the space to experience our natural rhythm, and we can shield ourselves better from external stimuli by knowing when we are ready to let them in and when we need to protect our energy from them. Aligning our activities, diet, and self-care routines with the different phases of our cycles allows us to harness our natural rhythms, making it easier to maintain balance and optimise our health.
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