Anyone who menstruates understands how much that time of the month can cramp your style. Period symptoms can be wide-ranging and difficult to manage. You may experience bloating, abdominal cramps, mood changes, headaches, and fatigue — just to name a few. Dealing with these physical and mental symptoms month after month can be exhausting.
You and your period likely have years together ahead of you, so it is essential to learn how to coexist peacefully. Fortunately, the right resources can make your monthly visitor a little more bearable. Here are some ways to make your periods suck less.
1. Track Your Cycle
Ignorance is not bliss with your menstrual cycle, so you should become in tune with your body’s natural patterns. Tracking your cycle is crucial for monitoring symptoms, preventing pregnancy, and knowing when to purchase period supplies. Downloading an app on your phone is an awesome way to keep up with the phase you’re in. Most apps are free to download and require just a little informational input on your part.
Regulating your period with hormonal birth control is also a great way to manage your cycle and deal with symptoms. Taking your birth control pill daily serves as a countdown for when you can expect your monthly visitor. Nowadays, you can access birth control online to eliminate the need for an in-person doctor’s appointment. This ensures you get quality, efficient care from home.
2. Eat a Mindful Diet
Your diet can majorly affect how you feel throughout your period, so be mindful of what goes on your plate. Unfortunately, the junk food you might crave can worsen some issues. Adding too much salt to your meals or consuming processed foods can result in bloating, a common period symptom. Going overboard with sugar could quickly lead to an energy spike, followed by a crash. Sugary foods also make it challenging to regulate your mood, which could lead to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression.
Focus on eating foods that will increase your energy levels and put your period symptoms at ease. Consuming leafy greens like kale and spinach is a great choice to combat falling iron levels that can cause fatigue. Water-packed fruits and veggies like cucumber and watermelon are terrific for staying hydrated and fulfilling cravings for sweets. Fiber-rich foods will help block the reabsorption of estrogen, which can lessen period cramps. Fill up on essential fiber with whole grains like quinoa and veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli.
3. Do the Right Kind of Exercise
While exercise is a fabulous way to fight through your period woes, you will likely have to scale back on the intensity. No one expects you to get up and run a marathon during your time of the month. However, regular movement is especially helpful in regulating symptoms and staying healthy. Light cardio, like walking, cycling, or swimming, is an excellent choice for getting your body moving without pushing yourself too far.
Yoga and gentle stretching are some of the best exercises during your period and can help reduce symptoms like cramping. You can enjoy some light to moderate strength training to feel stronger in your body and fight fatigue, too. The endorphins released during exercise can benefit your mood, especially if you deal with heightened anxiety or depression during your period.
4. Prioritize Comfort
Your self-care routine should heavily focus on comfort as you make it through your period. Start by wearing your favorite comfy clothes that are loose-fitting, especially if you deal with bloating. Proper pain management is essential for how comfortable you feel during this phase of your cycle. Pain medications and heating pads can become your BFFs whenever you suffer from cramping or discomfort.
Creating a relaxing environment can also make you feel at ease on your period. Unwind by curling up on the couch with your softest blanket, plushiest pillow, and a warm cup of tea. Comfort ties to the period products you prefer as well. If you’re not into wearing pads, try tampons or menstrual cups, and vice versa. Period underwear, designed like regular underwear but with moisture-wicking fabric, is increasingly popular due to its comfortability and easy use.
5. Be Gentle with Yourself
Showing yourself compassion and gentleness is foundational during this time of the month. The hormonal changes through your period are no joke, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re not in the best mood. Remember that feeling extra sensitive and irritable during your menstrual cycle is completely normal.
Your energy levels will likely decrease during your flow, so adjust your expectations of what you can accomplish. Your period might also put your relationship with your body to the test. It’s normal to gain around three to five pounds during your period, so don’t fret if the number on the scale goes up. Instead, see your body as a tremendous vessel that can handle these changes month after month.
The End of Sucky Periods
A visit from Aunt Flo isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time. The mental and physical symptoms can even interfere with your day-to-day life. Becoming in tune with your body and discovering what helps you is essential to surviving this time of the month.
Everyone’s cycle is different, so figuring out what works best for you may take some time. In addition, your period may differ from month to month, so be patient with yourself as you navigate any unexpected changes. Take your cycle one day at a time, and be proud of all that your body can do.
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