Have you ever had one of those days where you’re just killing it? Everything you do flows with ease, and you’re tearing through your giant to do list. Your heart is swelling with pride and gratitude for your productivity. It’s awesome.

And then there are those days where no matter how hard you try, you feel like a failure. Everything is hard. Nothing gets done. It’s completely frustrating.

Have you ever noticed if this ease or frustration aligns with where your body is in your menstrual cycle? It’s true. By choosing what tasks to do at what point in your cycle will work with your body rather than against it.

It’s true: honoring your menstrual cycle phases can help you work with greater ease and boost your productivity.

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But how? First you have to know what your menstrual cycle phases are and what’s happening in your body. This Biology 101 lesson (that you were never taught– don’t feel bad for not knowing) will give you really helpful clues so you can work with your body to harness your natural superpowers.

There are four menstrual cycle phases– menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal. As your hormones ebb and flow throughout the cycle, your body moves through each these four menstrual cycle phases.

No longer have a menstrual cycle (or is it wonky)? Use the moon!

If you are no longer menstruating or have an unreliable cycle length (which is typical for women in perimenopause), never fear. You can still enjoy the natural productivity flow of cyclical synching by harnessing the moon’s cycle.

Just like a woman’s menstrual cycle, the moon has four phases as well. By matching up the moon phase with the menstrual cycle phase, you can use the moon to guide your work focus for greatest productivity. It also helps you to balance your energy expenditure throughout the month. Because so many women over 40 have so many responsibilities and are carrying the mental workload, managing your energy in moon cycles is a loving act of self-care.

Ready to learn how your menstrual cycle phases can boost your productivity?

Let’s take a look at the four menstrual cycle phases and learn:

• What’s happening in your body during your monthly cycle
• How your hormones fluctuate throughout your cycle
• How these changes affect both your physical and emotional energy
• The best type of work for you to focus on during each menstrual cycle phase

Menstrual Phase (3-7 days) — New Moon

The first day of bleeding marks Cycle Day 1, and it is the beginning of the menstrual phase of the cycle. It correlates with the new moon, a time of new beginnings. During menstruation, the body sheds the unused uterine lining made of hormone-rich blood commonly referred to as a period. Bleeding lasts anywhere from 3-7 days depending on the woman, although each woman has a “usual” period length. Heaviness of bleeding varied within each period and from woman to woman.

Estrogen and progesterone, the main female sex hormones, are at their lowest levels during menstruation. It is because of these low hormone levels that many women feel quite low energy while on their period. They may not want to go out an socialize, either. Estrogen is a hormone that spurs on feelings of friendship and nurturing, so it makes sense that when estrogen is low there is less desire to socialize. If you’ve ever felt bad about wanting to be a homebody during your period, you shouldn’t! You were honoring your body’s cues!

Take advantage of this natural introspection by using the menstrual phase of your cycle to analyze the results of your efforts over the last month. It’s the perfect time to think about what worked and what didn’t. If you otherwise shy away from looking at data, now is the time your brain will be most receptive to sifting through lots of information.

Because your estrogen is low, you’re less inclined to care what others think, so this is the ideal menstrual cycle phase for objective decision-making about your work and life. In the menstrual phase, you have the best communication between the left and right sides of your brain. Use this great analytical and intuitive relationship will give you the best strategy for the month ahead.

Follicular Phase (7-10 Days) — Waxing Moon

Just like the new moon appears to grow in the days that follow the full moon, the follicular phase of your period cycle is also one of growth. Your body is preparing to release an egg. Before the release can happen at ovulation, the egg follicle must grow to the point just before rupturing.

During the follicular phase, your estrogen is rising.  As your primary female sex hormone, it is this increase in estrogen that is spurring on the growth of the egg follicle. Maturing follicles produce estrogen, so as you get further into this phase, your estrogen levels rise even more.

The male sex hormone, testosterone, is also rising during this menstrual cycle phase. Testosterone helps to repair the reproductive organs, so it makes sense for it to be working harder just before the possibility of pregnancy.

High estrogen and rising testosterone contribute to an elevated level of physical energy. Even better than feeling more energetic than normal, this is a stable energy that should last the duration of the follicular phase. High energy levels lead to high levels of productivity in this phase of your period cycle.

Similarly, you’re likely to experience more interest in socializing during the follicular phase. Estrogen is the hormone which makes women want to nurture and befriend others. So as estrogen rises, your desire to be with others does also. You’ll feel open to going to events and working a crowd of people.

To harness the productivity potential of the follicular phase’s energy boost, focus on creative projects, the more intricate, the better! You have the attention and energy to get them done. The follicular phase is also great for using your people skills. Whether it’s networking or interviewing for a new position, you’ll be at your best this week. You may also find that your brain won’t turn off, and you have loads of new ideas for work. This menstrual phase is perfect for brainstorming and long-term strategic planning.

Often referred to as “Venus Week,” the follicular phase is the hands down most productive phase of your cycle. Venus was the Greek goddess of fertility, but we also call on her association with victory and prosperity. Enjoy the massive productivity as you feel like you’re invincible during this part of the month.

Ovulation Phase (3-4 Days) — Full Moon

Your body is in the final preparations to release an egg, in hopes that it will be fertilized so you can perpetuate the species. (Never forget, humans are just a bunch of animals!)

As such, you have big hormone spikes in both Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone. These two hormones are responsible for getting the egg follicles up to size and rupturing. Estrogen works on a feedback loop with Luteinizing Hormone, so it is also high around ovulation. Testosterone drops off, which can be the reason you feel a bit of an energy dip just before ovulation.

Around ovulation, your physical energy can best be described as acute. You’re likely to pick up on twinges in your body that you wouldn’t notice at other times of the month. This is Mother Nature’s way of getting us to pay attention to what is going on in our body and realize we are at peak fertility.

The days immediately before and up to ovulation are ones of heightened awareness. Biologically speaking, you are on high alert to look for the perfect mate.  You’re at your most outgoing during this time of the month. There can be a bit of a push-and-pull between the physiological urge to be with others and the physical feeling of hyper-awareness that makes us want to lie low.

In terms of productivity, your best work projects during the ovulatory menstrual cycle phase include focusing on the details. Whether it is finalizing details of a major project or putting the finishing touches on a presentation, your hormones at ovulation will help you out. Also realize that your best communication happens during these few days, so if you need to communicate something clearly with your team or a vendor, now is the time!

Harness your biological instinct to put your best foot forward during ovulation. Use the heightened awareness and clear communication you have during this menstrual phase to work for you!

Luteal Phase (12-14 Days) — Waning Moon

The second half of your menstrual cycle is marked by the luteal phase, during which the lining of uterus thickens. Your body is still hoping the egg it released has been fertilized, so the uterine lining thickens to prepare for implantation of the fertilized egg.

During the luteal phase, both estrogen and progesterone are higher. Estrogen dips a bit at the start of this menstrual cycle phase, but it still stays elevated. Progesterone is high because is important for making sure the right proteins are in the endometrial lining to nourish a newly implanted egg. 

During the luteal menstrual cycle phase, you’ll experience steady but declining physical energy levels. You’re likely to feel what you consider to be your “normal” level of energy until 2-3 days before the menstrual phase starts again.

Similarly, your social energy starts high but turns introspective as the luteal phase progresses. Many women feel a higher emotional connection to other women during this phase. 

The luteal phase is ideal for executing the plans you made during the follicular phase. Your steady energy means you can tick off to-dos quickly. Basic, boring admin tasks are best done now. Sure, they aren’t exciting, but everyone loves getting stuff done. (Hello, email inbox?) As you feel yourself turning more introspective, you could turn to any writing work or journaling during this time.

What else should I know about my menstrual cycle phases?

Before your period cycle begins all over again, there is another important hormonal shift.

At the end of the luteal phase, levels of the hormone cortisol rise. Because cortisol is a stress hormone, anxiety tends to rise as well. This hormone fluctuation is responsible for the suite of unpleasant symptoms women know as Premenstrual Syndrome. If you suffer from PMS, try these 9 Ways to Lower Cortisol Naturally to give yourself some relief.

The Well Balanced Women blog is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please discuss your health issues with a licensed medical practitioner.