For over 25 years, I’ve had my period every four weeks or so, give or take a few years due to pregnancy and postpartum. I am not a fan (duh). But it’s literally a fact of life. Why not just go with the flow (sorry, not sorry!), right?
Unfortunately, I am not one of those women who feel fine and dandy during their cycle, so I try to extend a little extra grace and self care to myself those few days a month. The only local place that carries the feminine hygiene products I prefer is Whole Foods. One of my rituals is to grab an iced mocha from their cafe while there and sometimes a fancy chocolate bar too. Another cozy treat is to rub a little peppermint oil on my lower back and abdomen before taking a hot shower or cuddling up with a warm rice pack.
Here are a few other ways to take care of yourself while on your period from ABQ Mom contributors.
Everyone experiences their menstrual cycle differently, so I asked the other blog contributors how they take care of themselves. Here are a few of their replies:
Stay active, even while on your period. “Yoga works wonders for pretty much all symptoms. I also recommend black currant seed oil for irritability and fatigue,” says Jennifer.
Communication with your partner goes a long way. Katie D. shared, “Have your husband download an app on his phone to keep track of your cycle. Sounds funny but it helps when he knows it’s coming. He can be a little more accommodating and maybe even bring chocolate and flowers without being asked.”
Pay attention to your body. From Vanessa, “I use an electric heating pad on my back when I get those weird back cramps. And I always go to bed early . . . dishes done or not.”
Colleen says, “My only advice is to listen to your body. If you have a craving for something, just eat it. If you’re tired and just feel blah, then sit down.”
“I try to practice as much self-care as I can (when I can, of course),” says Samantha. “Things like face masks, reading a book, eating a piece of chocolate–or, who are we kidding, cake. Also just being gentle with myself, especially when my mood is really low. Feeling bad about feeling bad only makes it worse.”
Whether it’s a nap, a piece of chocolate, or all of the above, I hope that I’ve given you a few ideas of how to take care of yourself, mommas! I’d love if you’d share your own self care rituals below in the comments or on our Facebook post!
Originally published April 2019.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
This is a great article! Thank you for talking about a topic some consider taboo. Something to add – although premenstrual disorders are now diagnosed more often, they are still unknown to many. The symptoms of these disorders can be physically and mentally debilitating, and can last up to two weeks of the month. If symptoms are really bad during “that time of the month,” sometimes the bravest thing you can do is reach out to your PCP, Gynocologist, and/or therapist for help. April is actually PMD Awareness Month. You can learn more here: https://iapmd.org/pam-learn.
Comments are closed.