Joanna Platt is a life and relationship coach who helps high achievers with big feelings find their blend of work, family and personal well being. Her mission is incredibly powerful, wanting everyone who feels a pull to “do it all” also feel that they are enough in this world. Today Joanna and I focused on how the menstrual cycle affects our productivity and our entire life.

One thing she shared with me off the air and wasn’t recorded but think about how powerful it is for our kids to experience all the phases of their mamas. They get the snuggly mommy, the hardass mom, the adventurous and spontaneous mommy, and the disciplined mommy. I know my kids experience this!

The 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle are:

1. Menstruation – like Winter. It’s a reflective time, a time for rest, and your intuition is the highest. This is a great time for checks & balances as you are the least impulsive during this time.
2. Follicular – Springlike. Bouncy and refreshed, this is a “start” phase to capture ideas and brainstorm.
3. Ovulation – Summertime. You are most magnetic, happy, confident and bubbly during this time. This is a great time to commit to a project and get to work.
4. Luteal – Fall-like. Time for wrapping things up, hunkering down to finish projects and it’s when our inner critic is loudest.