There’s a Nike ad that says “Don’t Make a Resolution, Make Yourself”.

And I have to let you in on a little secret, I have never made a New Years Resolution.

I don’t believe in them. I don't think they work. They just seem destined to fail. Well, go really well for a month or two, and then fail.

I think you should be constantly striving to better yourself throughout the year, not just once a year.

And this got me thinking.

Most women have no idea that their menstrual cycle provides them with the perfect structure for monthly “resolutions”.

It’s true.

I’ve talked about the four different phases before — menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal.

But if you are able to listen to your body, you already have a built in system for monthly reflection, goal setting, and execution.

The book that inspired this thought — “The Optimized Woman”.

So, during your period you’re best at doing some internal thinking and reflection, letting go and rethinking your goals.

Next comes the follicular phase when you should set your goals for the month after reflecting on the previous month during your period. Then once you set a goal, really look into HOW you are going to achieve that goal. What are the tangible steps each day that you can take to help you succeed? You will be focused and able to have clear, concentrated thinking as well as more energy.

After that is the ovulatory phase. I view this as the social phase. You’re going to be great at getting out there and making the connections and building the relationships that are going to help you achieve those goals. You are also going to be more productive and relatable, not to mention this is the most confident time of your cycle.

The final phase before the cycle begins again is your luteal phase. You will feel more inspired, creative and able to problem solve issues that arise. Use this phase to brainstorm new ideas and solutions for the future and upcoming month. What did you struggle with during the month, and how can you solve that or fix it in the future?

I have heard the menstrual cycle described as having your own built in life-coach. And who doesn’t want one of those? Hell, people pay big bucks for them, and do you know why? Because they’re worth it.

So, give your own personal coach a go, why don’t you.