My Natural Cycle – I Wish I Knew This In My 20s
When I was in my 20s, taking synthetic birth control felt like common sense. It was just part of life. I took the pill for 21 days, got my period, and that was it. No pregnancy, no pimples, no problems, right?
Well, back then, nobody told me that synthetic birth control could increase the risk of breast cancer. I also didn’t know about the many amazing benefits of having a natural cycle. But I know now, and I want to share it with you.
But first things first. I’m not a professional, but I have a big interest in understanding my body. I’ve learned about this topic through free resources online (like university and healthcare websites) and from books I’ve bought. Most importantly, I’m a woman who is now very observant of her own body.
Why I call my natural cycle a super power
The natural cycle only happens when you’re not on synthetic birth control or other synthetic hormones that alter it.
A woman’s cycle exists for a reason: to prepare the body for conception and possible pregnancy. If you don’t get pregnant, your cycle naturally moves through four phases. When you understand them, these phases can become your guide for life. They can help prevent burnout, show you what to eat, and even guide your exercise routine. They can also be a huge help in business, but that’s for another article.
I’ve been living in balance with my cycle for over a year now, and it’s almost magical how well my body works when treated naturally. Having the awareness of what happens, changed my life completly. I’ve even reduced symptoms like breast tenderness and cramps. Let me introduce you to the four phases and how I use them to guide my life.
Phase 1 – menstrual phase
When you’re not pregnant, your hormones drop to their lowest levels. It’s like winter. This drop triggers your uterus to shed its lining: your period. It’s the reset for a new cycle.
My typical mood? Low. Without estrogen and progesterone (which help stimulate serotonin and endorphins, your happy and stress-relief hormones), you have less energy and feel more inward.
My focus: Rest, reflective work (personal and business), gentle yoga, and short walks. I try to avoid intensive work, overtime or stressfull situations.
Length: 4–6 days.
Phase 2 – follicular phase
This is the waking-up phase, like spring. Estrogen starts rising, your uterine lining begins to grow, and your happy hormones get a boost. Your body is preparing for conception.
My mood? Positive, motivated, and energized. The estrogen level rises and so do the happy hormones.
My focus: Planning, content creation, and creative projects.
Length: 6–7 days.
Phase 3 – ovulatory phase
Peak season is summer season. The egg is released, estrogen is at its highest, and your body is ready to conceive. This happens about 14 days before your next period.
My typical mood? Social, confident, and a slight feeling of being awesome.
My focus: Meetings, networking, negotiations, high-energy tasks, overtime, and intense workouts.
Length: 2–4 days.
Phase 4 – luteal phase
Here comes autumn. Estrogen decreases, progesterone rises, and your body prepares for possible pregnancy. This hormone calms the nervous system, reduces anxiety, and prepares your breasts for breastfeeding (that’s why the breast might hurt prior period).
My mood? Calm, focused, and more inward. But 1-2 days prior period I feel extremly low. Negative thoughts crwal up and I’m very cranky. That’s when I know the hormones drop completly.
My focus: Bookkeeping, organizing, and finishing projects. It’s all about getting things done.
Length: About 14 days.
How the natural cycle helps me
For me, it’s all about energy management. Instead of forcing myself into a 24/7 same-pace routine, I work with my cycle.
Example:
- Luteal phase – Great for focus and strategy, so I tackle taxes, organize, and wrap up projects.
- Ovulatory phase – My peak season for socializing, important meetings, negotiations, and interviews. Overtime feels easy here.
I’ll write another article on how to be most productive using your natural cycle, but you get the idea. It also applies to food and exercise. In the 4 different phases with different hormones present, your body needs different nutritions. Same is true for exercises. You might be more efficiant with doing less at the right time.
It only works when no chemicals are involved
Here’s something I didn’t know until a few years ago and it shocked me.
When you’re on birth control, you don’t actually have a cycle. Your hormones stay at a steady level. No fluctuations, no mood phases, no superpower. And that “period” you get? It’s not a period at all. It’s called a withdrawal bleed, which is not importand or neccessary.
The only reason it exists is because, when the pill was first introduced, women were worried about losing their period. So manufacturers kept the bleed to make it feel more “normal.”
Without hormone fluctuations, your body doesn’t work the way it’s naturally meant to. You are basically performing on an average level.
Final thoughts
Society often labels the natural cycle as a burden. And it can feel that way if you fight against it. But when you work with it, everything changes. Trying to negotiate in your menstrual phase will probably feel exhausting because your body is in rest mode. But if you wait a week and use that time for reflection instead, it feels lighter and more aligned.
Women run on a different clock than men, and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise. I hope this article gives you something to think about.
Do you recognize your cycle and use it as your life guide? What’s your experience?
