Co-creating with your cycle
On life as a freelance artist (with a womb)
Cycle tracking has transformed my life as a freelance artist.
By understanding my body’s natural rhythms, I’m better able to make space for creative bursts and deep rest more effectively.
Honoring my cycle has helped me reconnect with my body in a way that nurtures both my physical health and inner wisdom.
Monthly ebbs & flows
Tracking your cycle isn’t just about knowing when your period is coming: it’s about aligning your workflow to support productivity and creativity.
Dr. Aviva Romm calls this “Cycle Sense”: working with our bodies and making shifts throughout our cycles to keep us in harmony with our natural inclinations.
Rather than seeing hormonal changes in your cycle as something to resent or power through, living with “Cycle Sense” can offer us profound creative gifts.
During your period
During this time, I tend to do my deepest, most intuitive ideation. At this point, the hormones progesterone and estrogen are at their lowest, which may give you a deeper desire for rest, recharging, and reflection.
I try to avoid creative multitasking whenever possible (no project switching back and forth!). Some of my clearest writing comes when I am on my bleed.
Follicular phase (period to ovulation)
In this phase of your cycle, you may have higher energy levels and are likely to feel inspired and productive. This is because this is the time of the cycle when the hormone estrogen is rising.
Estrogen makes you feel more sensual, energized, and creative. Estrogen has also been found to play a key role in memory, so if you’re an actor: this is great time to be learning your lines.
I use this time for brainstorming, writing new drafts, and setting meetings: things that demand enthusiastic focus.
Ovulation
For some folks, ovulation is the perfect time for big projects and social events due to the peak in estrogen. But not everyone has the same response to this hormonal peak in their cycle!
I find that I get easily overwhelmed and agitated around ovulation due to the range of hormones peaking at this time, so I tend to do more organizational heavy-lifting at this time in the month.
Luteal phase (between ovulation & your period)
At this phase in your cycle, declining estrogen levels can lead to lower energy levels and feeling more internal. You may prefer doing journaling work or practices that nurture and restore you rather than presenting public-facing work.
I use this time for more focused, detailed work like editing or client follow-ups. I still get things done, but with less pressure. I find that I am more sensitive to criticism at this time in my cycle, so I try to avoid notes sessions from collaborators at this time in my cycle.
Interested in learning more about how you can go with your flow?
Cycle Tracking helps you work in harmony with your body, so you’re not pushing yourself when you’re exhausted, or overloading yourself when you’re high-energy.
I offer an online course of the Cycle Tracking basics twice a year via Earth Body School.
In this course, you’ll learn how to identify each phase of your cycle to make decisions about your workflow, self-care, hormone balance - even contraception and conception.
To learn more, visit earthbodyschool.com/cycle-tracking
With gratitude,
Kate