Many people dread their period or feel like their fluctuating hormones are a burden. As a menstrual health coach I am dedicated to educating, supporting and empowering you to have a more positive relationship with your menstrual cycle.

Here are some steps you can take to towards embracing your period:

1. Begin With Understanding Your Hormones
Each menstrual cycle has four unique phases – the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, the luteal phase, and the menstrual phase. Understanding what is happening with our hormones and energy levels in each phase can foster acceptance. You’ll find more about this on my podcast From Pain to Power.

2. Track the Menstrual Cycle and Plan Ahead
Keeping track of where you are in your menstrual cycle and planning ahead is a very supportive self-care practice. You can use a journal, track in your calendar, or use a period tracking app. When you write down the first day of your period, you can then plan ahead for when your period might be due. Then you can plan with things like meals, exercise, social life, work, as well as rest and self-care.

3. Nurturing Positive Thoughts in the Mind-body Connection
Having fear or dread about PMS or period pain is very common, especially for people who suffer a lot. It is our brain’s way of trying to stay safe. It’s important to find ways to soothe fear and calm our nervous system.

Journaling your feelings can help to bring calm to your mind-body connection and it sends the message that you are listening to yourself. After you have journaled, you can write a reassuring message back to yourself or write some positive mantras to repeat for self-reassurance.

4. Self-care Rituals for Your Period
The menstrual phase can be a tender time. Taking the time to rest, to practice self-care, and to slow down supports stress levels and therefore our hormonal health. Rituals such as lighting a candle, running a bath, having a nutritious meal and getting cosy with a book or movie are great ways to care for ourselves. Journaling and reflecting on the month gone by and the month ahead is another ritual you can try.

5. Nutrition for Hormonal Health
Taking some time to consider nutrition for hormonal health helps to build a positive relationship with your menstrual cycle. Ensuring your diet is balanced with plenty of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats is the foundation of hormonal health.

Adding supplements like Cleanmarine PeriodPlan into your day can support you with your nutritional needs for hormonal health, energy management, and skin. As PeriodPlan contains Omega 3, B Vitamins and Vitamin D with Rosemary Extract and Soy isoflavones in one supplement its an ideal easy way to ensure you support your cycle every day of the month.

6. Embrace the Shadow Side With Compassion
Similar to the moon with its waxing and waning light, menstrual cycle hormones also ebb and flow every month. We have days where we feel energetic, upbeat, and outgoing. Then we have days where we prefer to withdraw, go inwards, or crave silence. We might feel moody, cranky, or have cravings. On those more difficult days, we encourage you to speak kindly to yourself, to give yourself space if you can, and to build your self-compassion muscle.