Why Popular Time Management Strategies Don’t Work for Women

Some weeks you’re on: you’re crushing it at work, you’re killing it in the gym, and you have energy after work to meet up with friends or to engage in leisure activities you love. But other weeks? Not so much. You have to drag yourself out of bed, you feel like you’re phoning it in at work and during workouts, and after work, you crash on the sofa and stare at the ceiling.

If that describes you, you’re probably (and rightfully) frustrated by these swings in mood, productivity, and energy. And being the wickedly intelligent woman that you are, you’ve probably set out to try to fix them. Maybe you’ve tried the Bullet journal or a to-do list app.  Maybe you bought an inspiring day planner, hoping that the beautiful pages would zap you into action. Maybe you read one of the million books out there on time management or productivity secrets. .

But none of those things have worked—or will work in the future. Why? Because traditional time management strategies don’t work for women. These external “solutions” force us to follow the 24-hour circadian cycle and they ignore a woman’s natural, 28-day hormone clock.

We’ve been taught to plan our lives on the 24-hour circadian schedule, which works well for men—but not for women. With most time management systems, we’re expected to make to-do lists, check things off as the day goes by, and then wake up the next day and repeat. Every day, every 24 hours, the same thing.

But when women are forced to function as if their natural 28-day hormone clock doesn’t exist, we miss out on the superpower granted to us by our hormones. We have different strengths during each of the four phases of our 28-day hormone cycle, and when we match our activities with our strengths during each phase—instead of keeping the rhythm of our lives the same day in and day out— we can accomplish more with less stress. When we understand and align our activities with our hormone cycle, all of a sudden (and with very little effort!) we have plenty of time to do all that we want and need to. We have more spaciousness to get things done.

Really? This all sounds a little woo woo….

Now you might be thinking Wow, that sounds great. Far-fetched and totally made up, but great! But this isn’t theoretical at all. Research shows that our hormone cycles have a direct influence on our mood, energy, creativity, and worldview. So when we plan our activities in accordance with the natural flow of our hormones, we can be top-performing, high-achieving women with energy left over at the end of the day—no to-do list app necessary. (Though we benefit greatly from knowing where we are in our cycle, which is what I designed the MyFLO app to help you do.)

Leverage Your Hormones for Productivity

As women, our cyclical nature means we can and should work differently (and plan our food and exercise differently) depending on which abilities are brought forward by our hormones during each phase of our cycle. When we start to get familiar with our different strengths during each phase, we become predictable powerhouses at work and in life, instead of believing we’re victims of our hormonal fluctuations.

Ready to step into your power?

Your essential first step is to sync your diet and exercise. Research shows that  your body has different micronutrient needs each week, and that, hormonally speaking, we’re better equipped to handle intense workouts during the first half of our cycle. When your system gets the nourishment and movement it needs when it needs it, you will feel energized, creative, and naturally more productive.

The second step? Respect your feminine energy. Before you start rolling your eyes, hear me out! When I say “feminine energy” I’m not talking about how you dress or behave. I’m talking about connecting with your unique cyclical nature as a woman and recognizing the natural shifts in energy and focus that come along with each part of your cycle. These natural shifts are not vulnerabilities. When we learn how to use them in a way that benefits us, they become strengths. Harnessing the power of these shifts is the secret to achieving your personal, professional, and romantic goals.

There is a timing and seasonality to your life—and when you use that knowledge to your advantage, you’re doing what I’ve termed “cycle syncing.” Practicing cycle synching allows for greater creativity and productivity without greater stress. When you cycle sync, you can accomplish more of what really matters with ease, grace, and less stress.

If you’ve started to roll your eyes again, stop! Cycle syncing isn’t mysterious or made-up. It’s a practice that starts with understanding the delicate (and often off-kilter) balance between estrogen and progesterone and how those hormones shift during the month. After that, it’s about structuring your life around the ebbs and flows of those hormones. That might sound hard, but it’s not. In practice, cycle syncing is a totally doable and intuitive way to live.

The third step is when things really get exciting. This is when you start to embody cycle syncing by learning about the four phases of your cycle and aligning your activities with your strengths in each phase. This is the magic that will help you do more of what matters to you without burning out.

The follicular phase

When: The week after your period ends

What’s happening hormonally: Estrogen is on the rise

What to do: Set your intentions for the future, clarify your vision, spend time journaling (or otherwise recording your feelings and thoughts), spend time organizing what you want to accomplish in the coming weeks

The ovulation phase

When: Mid-cycle for 3–5 days

What’s happening hormonally: Estrogen is at its highest point

What to do: Talk about your vision, collaborate with like-minded folks, schedule meetings, connect with others

The luteal/premenstrual phase

When: About 10–12 days before your period begins

What’s happening hormonally: Progesterone is at its highest point

What to do: This is your do, do, do time! You are at your most organized during this phase and you love getting granular about the details. Make this phase all about accomplishing the activities and goals you outlined during your follicular phase.

The menstruation phase

When: The days when you have your period.

What’s happening hormonally: All of your hormones are at a low point.

What to do: Slow down, reflect on what’s happened over the last month, and practice gratitude for all the good things that have happened and all you’ve accomplished. Think back on any areas of your life that feel less than optimal or that need more attention and use them as a starting point for setting intentions during your next follicular phase.

By getting to know your body’s natural patterns and feeling into your natural 28-day hormone cycle, you can become more efficient, creative, and productive, without feeling exhausted and depleted. If you’re ready to deepen your understanding of your cycle, download the MyFLO tracker app. It gives you a daily hormone forecast so you know how to prioritize your activities at work and at home. (It also helps you resolve any cycle-related issues you are having.) If you’re ready for even more support, I invite you to…Join my new FREE Masterclass

Having the right information about our cycle allows us to biohack our hormones so we can look and feel our best—and be our most creative, effective, and energized selves. If you’ve been struggling with uneven energy, creativity, and productivity (or if you experience other hormone problems, like acne, PMS, bloating, mood swings, fatigue, and heavy or irregular periods) and you’re ready to say goodbye to them forever, I’d love to invite you to my new Masterclass on the Science of Cycle Syncing. I’ll be teaching you how to understand your unique hormonal biorhythms so your symptoms disappear.

The Masterclass is the place to start if you want to live healthier, work smarter, and enjoy your   life more. The doors to the Science of Cycle Syncing Masterclass series open soon. Save your spot here.

Love and Ovaries,

Alisa

 

Good things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, have you tried Cycle Syncing?

Second, have you tried eating and exercising with your FLO?

Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social