Do the Cycle Quiz
Episode 5

Unlocking the power of your Menstrual Cycle: Track for Better Understanding 

Have you ever heard these common myths about tracking your menstrual cycle? Myth #1: It's only necessary for women trying to conceive. Myth #2: It's complicated and time-consuming. Myth #3: It's not important because periods are just a hassle. Now, let me share the truth with you. Tracking your menstrual cycle is crucial for all women, regardless of their reproductive goals. It's not as complicated as you might think, and it can actually be empowering. By understanding your cycle, you gain valuable insights into your body, mood, and overall well-being. Get ready to unlock a world of self-care opportunities and take control of your health like never before.

  • In this episode, you will be able to:

    • Choose the best type of menstrual cycle tracking for you (because there is no wrong way to do it)

    • Know what to write/type when it comes to tracking your cycle

    • Understand why we need to do this as women for our health - physical and mental

    • Prepare you for next weeks episode which is on how to interpret your notes

Show Notes

A short overview of the episode:

  • Visit the website to download the free tracker mentioned in the podcast. (www.moniquedickson.com/cycletracker)

  • Choose a method to track your cycle that feels best for you, such as using a paper chart, a paper journal, the Notes app on your phone, or an app that already tracks your period.

  • Write down one word for each of the four bodies (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) to track how you feel each day of your cycle.

  • Consider focusing on one specific aspect, such as digestion or acne, and track it with one word each day.

  • Use the collected data to gain insights into your body, emotions, and health, and share it with your doctor, partner, or family.

  • Consider booking into the rebalance clinic if you suspect a hormonal imbalance and have months of data to provide.

  • Stay consistent and track your cycle for an entire cycle to see if you like the method you chose.

  • Use the data to make connections between the day of your cycle and how you feel, and implement self-care or other strategies accordingly.

  • Utilize the insights gained from tracking your cycle to improve your overall health and well-being.

  • If you suffer from PMDD or other menstrual-related disorders, take your tracking data to your Dr. as evidence

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

 

Timestamp of the episode


00:00:00 - Introduction,
Monique introduces the episode and emphasizes the importance of understanding and tracking one's menstrual cycle. She highlights the benefits of recording your cycle, such as gaining insight into your body, emotions, and health.

00:01:43 - Part 1: Recording Your Cycle,
Monique explains that she will split the podcast into two parts, focusing first on recording the cycle. She encourages listeners to find a tracking method that works best for them, whether it's pen and paper, a journal, a notes app, or a period-tracking app. She also mentions the option of using her free tracker available on her website.

00:03:59 - Why Track Your Cycle,
Monique emphasizes the importance of collecting data about your cycle to gain insights into your body, emotions, and health. She mentions that this information can be useful when discussing symptoms with a doctor, managing PMDD, or sharing with a partner or family members.

00:08:27 - Tracking Options and What to Write,
Monique suggests different tracking options, including paper charts, journals, notes apps, or period-tracking apps. She also provides a few examples of what to write, such as using four words for each section of your body (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) to track how you feel in each area throughout your cycle.

00:12:41 - Ways to Check in with Your Cycle,
The speaker discusses different ways to check in with your cycle, including daily check-ins, using a cycle tracker, and doing a long-form check-in through journaling. It is important to be clear on your goals and intentions when tracking your cycle for a more sustainable practice.

00:13:29 - Using a Red Pen on Bleed Days,
The speaker suggests using a red pen on your bleed days when journaling to easily identify where your cycle starts when reviewing your entries. This visual cue can be helpful for tracking patterns and understanding your cycle better.

00:14:29 - Full Body Check-in,
The speaker shares her personal process of doing a full body check-in in her journal. She emphasizes the importance of taking a moment of stillness to connect with your body before writing down your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state. This daily practice can provide valuable insights.

00:16:19 - Knowing Your Hardest Day,
The speaker mentions that she knows day 21 is her hardest day of the cycle and adjusts her self-care accordingly. Regular cycle check-ins can help identify patterns and prepare for challenging days. It is also valuable to document positive feelings and experiences as a reminder during more difficult times.

00:17:19 - Looking for Patterns and Living in Alignment,
The speaker previews future topics, including reading over cycle tracking notes for patterns, understanding the superpowers and vulnerabilities of each cycle phase, and living in alignment with your cycle.

The Hormonally Balanced Mothers Podcast

The podcast for mothers ready to re-balance their hormones & their life

Join Mama and hormone practitioner Monique Dickson as she explores how to re-balance your hormones, regain your energy and replenish your body, by making changes to the way you understand yourself, and feed your body.

Monique has 4 children, and a husband and lives on land in rural NZ. She now aligns her life, business, food, and parenting with her menstrual cycle. In this podcast, she'll teach you the tried and tested ways of re-balancing your hormones.

When you live a life with balanced hormones, EVERYTHING gets easier, you find the energy you need to be the mama you wanted to be, you'll have the focus to complete the tasks you want and the emotional stability to be present with your loved ones.

Thanks for being here, on my wee corner of the web

Did you find what you were looking for? I hope you are inspired to begin to tune in to your cycle and start balancing your hormones, I'd love to support you further if you're ready for it? 

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