{"id":21102,"date":"2022-06-30T14:11:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T12:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21102"},"modified":"2022-06-30T15:27:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T13:27:22","slug":"how-your-period-affects-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-your-period-affects-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"How Your Period Affects Productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to work and school, some days you might feel like you\u2019re on fire, while others you might feel like you\u2019re using your two last brain cells to get through the day. A lot of things can affect your productivity and ability to get stuff done, but what about the culprit that sneaks up on you every month only to knock you on your butt and throw all your plans out the window?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s right, your period. Good old Aunt Flow. Shark week. Whatever you want to call it, we all know what it\u2019s like to feel like your period is slowing you down \u2013 for better or worse. It might feel like you want to trudge on ahead, but it\u2019s ok to take a break! So how does your period affect your productivity and how can you work with your menstrual cycle to live your best life? Find out now!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Menstrual Cycle<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you can understand how your menstrual cycle affects productivity, it\u2019s helpful to have a quick review of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/womens-health\/stages-of-menstrual-cycle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">menstrual cycle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a whole.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can divide it up into four main stages:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Menstrual Phase:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This starts the first day of your period, and typically lasts three to seven days.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Follicular Phase: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This overlaps with your menstrual phase, also starting the first day of your period and ending with ovulation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ovulation Phase: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the twenty-four-hour window when you\u2019re fertile, usually occurring two weeks after the first day of your period if you have a twenty-eight-day cycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019re a period pro, let\u2019s get down to understanding why it\u2019s so hard to get stuff done during your period!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Period Fatigue and Productivity<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest symptoms that can come with getting your period is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/period-fatigue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fatigue<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Chalk it up to biology, this is a totally normal response and doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re lazy whatsoever. You\u2019re not alone either, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menstrual-cycle\/premenstrual-syndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of people who menstruate have experienced some symptoms of PMS \u2013 premenstrual syndrome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with fatigue, you may also experience <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/4-causes-severe-period-cramps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cramps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, headaches, irritability, anxiety, back pain, bloating, and mood swings. It\u2019s hard to balance all that while also trying to be productive!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So why do you get so tired during your period? This is primarily due to hormone changes that occur before and during your period. You\u2019ve probably heard of estrogen, one of the most well-known sex hormones. Estrogen production increases during the first half of the menstrual cycle, and decreases in the second half. Serotonin is one of the key <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/happy-hormones-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">neurotransmitters for happiness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and also tends to decrease with estrogen, meaning it can be hard to stay motivated, happy, and energized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another factor that can contribute to fatigue is certain reproductive health disorders. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstruation-and-anemia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iron deficiency anemia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can lead to fatigue, especially during your period, as can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/endometriosis-and-pcos\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">endometriosis and PCOS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the science behind menstruation can help you see why your period can affect productivity so much. But still, we live in a world where we have to get stuff done and live our lives, even when we\u2019re bleeding. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so helpful to know your individual cycle and have a plan for when it\u2019s harder to be productive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Plan Accordingly<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the first steps towards optimizing productivity around your period is to understand your cycle. You can get to know your cycle better through tools like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/cycle-journal\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cycle journaling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, basal thermometers, and tracking your cervical height and mucus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who menstruate tend to feel the most productive at the end of their periods and through ovulation. But everyone\u2019s different! Some people get tired during ovulation or are out of commission for their whole period. Knowing your cycle means being able to plan meetings, projects, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/working-out-with-your-menstrual-cycle\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workouts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and social events at times when you tend to have more energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel like a lack of productivity around your period is severely affecting your life, you may want to discuss your options with your healthcare provider. They can test your hormone levels and suggest certain medications like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/birth-control-options-best\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hormonal birth control<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, pain medication, and iron supplements to help bring some balance into your cycle. You can also help support your cycle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, healthy sleep habits, and even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/herbal-medicine\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">herbalism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Give Yourself a Break<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re not as productive as you\u2019d like to be before and during your period, it\u2019s ok, that is so normal! We know it can be frustrating to feel like you\u2019re not doing your best during this time of the month, but there\u2019s a lot going on inside of you that you have very little control over. Especially if you deal with intense <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/period-flu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PMS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or period symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although you may not have much of a choice, you don\u2019t have to always get stuff done \u2013 especially during your period. Rest is one of the best tools for dealing with period discomfort and fatigue. Don\u2019t be afraid to take a break, a nap, or just slow your schedule down a bit. Bleeding is hard work, do what you need to do to take care of yourself!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to work and school, some days you might feel like you\u2019re on fire, while others you might feel like you\u2019re using your two last brain cells to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":21106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.12 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Menstrual Cycle: Period Fatigue and Productivity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rest is one of the best tools for dealing with period. 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