Cycle Syncing Calendar: Your Ultimate Guide to Boosting Creativity + Productivity
You’ve heard the term everywhere, but did you know that cycle syncing can not only improve your monthly workout and meal plans, but your creative projects, too? For those with menstrual cycles, cycle syncing is they key to tapping into their highest potential. Here’s how:
What is cycle syncing?
Most known for biohacking your workouts, cycle syncing is a practice where you actively integrate your lifestyle with your menstrual cycle. (Basically, you adjust your health and wellness habits to align with your 28-day hormonal cycle.) This can look like changing your workouts and diet to better fit your energy levels during each phase, or improving other facets of your life—like creative flow and work ethic.
I’ll be focusing on providing tips on the latter with help from my podcast guest, Avery Leigh, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). (Listen to this episode to learn more about the ins and outs of cycle syncing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!)
Benefits of cycle syncing for creativity and productivity:
Higher energy levels
Lower risk of burnout and stress
Quicker ease into creative flow
Better, more intentional work created
Improves confidence and mood
How to Cycle Sync
Cycle syncing is easy to incorporate once you learn more about each phase of your menstrual cycle. You may have even naturally gravitated towards these activities or habits during each phase on your own (what can we say, a women’s intuition is always on point). Here’s how you can incorporate cycle syncing into your daily life:
Menstrual Phase
The “Winter” Phase; ~Days 1-5
Your menstrual phase, aka your period, is when your estrogen and progesterone levels stay low while you shed your uterine lining. During this phase, you’ll want to slow down—especially since you’re feeling physical symptoms like cramps, fatigue, and insomnia. This phase is where you’re at your most intuitive so allow yourself time to tap into your intuition to help you set intentions for the month and allow space for new creative ideas to flow.
When it comes to creativity and productivity, you’ll want to turn inwards and relax during this phase:
Day 1: Practice meditation and restorative yoga
Day 2: Take breaks while creating and working
Day 3: Lean on Morning Pages journaling to release tension, stress, and tap into your intuition
Day 4: Spend time in nature
Day 5: Focusing on pampering and self care
Follicular Phase
The “Spring” Phase; ~Days 6-14
After your period, you transition into the follicular phase, also coined as the “spring” phase since your estrogen levels start to increase and you start to prepare for the ovulation (“summer”) phase. Here you’ll start to gain more energy and momentum as your mood and productivity begin to rise—making it the ideal time to prioritize collaboration and taking creative risks.
During the follicular phase, you’ll want to focus on these items:
Day 6: Kickstarting a new project
Day 7: Scheduling a coffee chat with a mentor or fellow creative
Day 8: Planning your next project, business plan, or art piece
Day 9: Meeting with key collaborators for planning your next business or creative project
Day 10: Independent brainstorming
Day 11: Networking with other creatives
Day 12: Trying a new creative medium
Day 13: Following the Pomodoro Method while working
Day 14: Creating just for fun
Ovulatory Phase
The “Summer” Phase; ~Days 15-17
While your ovulation phase may be short, it is one of the most impactful when it comes to your creativity and productivity since both your estrogen and testosterone levels are at their peak. This phase brings out your confidence, energy, and creativity the most. Lean into public-facing tasks like public speaking, creating content, and marketing (if you have a business).
Here are a few tasks to work on during your ovulatory phase:
Day 15: Collaborating with fellow creatives
Day 16: Creating photo and video social media content
Day 17: Showing up on social media via live and stories
Luteal Phase
The “Fall” Phase; ~Days 18-28
The “fall” of your cycle is called your luteal phase. Before your period, your progesterone levels increase to prepare for a potential pregnancy. Progesterone will continue to rise if you are pregnant, or they will fall, along with estrogen, if you are not—which triggers your menstrual cycle to begin. During this phase, you start to wind down and lean towards tasks that help you wrap everything up before you can rest. You’ll want to focus on flying through your to-do list and working on detail-orientated tasks.
Ease through your luteal phase by working on:
Day 18: De-cluttering your work space
Day 19: Taking a rest day
Day 20: Doing a “life audit” where you look at what’s working and what isn’t
Day 21: Taking action on your “life audit”
Day 22: Giving yourself space to feel
Day 23: Finishing your monthly to-do list
Day 24: Having an editing day—this could apply to writing, photography, videography, etc.
Day 25: Editing or re-organizing your workflow
Day 26: Focusing on personal chores and goals
Day 27: Wrapping up and tying lose ends on projects
Day 28: Reflecting on the progress you made this month
