Welcome to #Cyclesyncing, the concept of optimizing your productivity levels by syncing it with your menstrual cycle. So far, the trend has garnered 466 million views on TikTok, with creators proposing that menstrual cycles are inherently incompatible with men-centric work cultures. The idea is that we can beat burnout and hack our productivity levels by selecting exercise regimens, diet habits, social schedules, and work objectives based on the four different phases in a period cycle.
Speaking of those four phases, here they are:
Follicular: “Inner Spring,” lasts seven to 10 days, Ideal for trying new things,
Ovulatory: “Inner Summer,” lasts three to nine days, The social phase
Luteal: “Inner Fall,” 10 to 14 days, detail oriented/task completion phase
Menstrual: “Inner Winner,” lasts three to seven days, prioritize rest and inward reflection
While the trend seems like a step forward to demystifying and advocating for women’s wellness, it’s still not backed by the mainstream, and the benefits are bound to vary from person to person.
Plus, writing for The Cut, journalist Lindsey Gellman points out that the movement oversimplifies a woman's autonomy. “The paradox of choice whittled down to a mangable set of options for this morning’s workout or this evening’s bedtime—might be what cycle syncing’s adherents really want.”
Gellman continues, "Cycle syncing wants us to understand that our problem—our cramps, our acne, our burnout—aren’t our fault. It promises that, if we can observe ourselves with compassion and care, then we can decipher the body’s messages to us, offer correctives, and ultimately unleash the primal forces of womanhood that the patriarchy would rather keep down. It positions its framework as an antidote to hustle culture—a path home to our bodies, ourselves."
Emma Bates, who dedicated yesterday’s Diem newsletter to this very topic, reflected a similar sentiment. She noted that wellness trends like cycle syncing and the “soft girl” revolution reflect our collective rejection of hustle culture.
While it’s comforting to have an explanation for low productivity periods (pun intended) and even more reason to carve out time for rest, it’s also important to note your employers might not take you being in your “inner winter” phase as a good reason for your work being late.
