I love the concept that the seasons exist within your menstrual cycle, and I definitely believe there is some truth to this.

And by exploring this I believe you can gain a better understanding of your cycle. So, in honor of the changing seasons we’re going to talk about how fall is like our luteal phase.

First off, your luteal phase is the end of your cycle before your period comes and your cycle starts again. Depending on the length of your particular cycle it is roughly the last week of your cycle.

So, fall is like your luteal phase, but what about the rest of your cycle?

Well, winter is like your menstrual phase (your period), spring is like your follicular phase and summer is similar to your ovulatory phase.

And some cycles I feel like my luteal phase is more like what I expect my menstrual phase to be, than what my period is actually like.

It’s like vacation, often there’s a lot of build up and excitement leading up to vacation that actually lasts longer than the trip itself. And I find that my period is like that. My body and mind prepares for it longer than it actually lasts.

So, the first similarity between fall and our final phase — we slow down.

The energy and excitement of summer, and our ovulatory phase, wears off. If you stop to pay attention you will notice this.

Our physical energy wains, but that isn’t necessarily a negative. Because even though physically we are pushed to slow down, mentally we’re very active and creative during this phase.

I don’t know about you but I’m already thinking about next year, about potential goals, things I want to do and accomplish.

And just like that our luteal phase is the perfect time to focus inward, to reflect, think and dig deep within ourselves.

For anything you’ve been hanging onto, dragging around with you, that’s no longer serving you, this is a great time to let that extra baggage go.

As your physical energy slows down, you may find yourself more tired than before. This reminds me of the dreary, gray weather we’re currently experiencing here in Iowa, and how this always effects my energy level.

I feel like it’s mother nature’s way of preparing me for the hibernation of winter and my period. Yes, there are those who are super active during the winter. (We don’t have any mountains to snowboard down here unfortunately. And I’m a bit of a hermit in the winter. I like to be warm, snuggled up and cozy.)

But I’ve been working on my relationship with winter. Well, I started last year trying to change my attitude towards the season. And learning about hygge really helped me.

These next parts are necessarily season specific, but I’ve been feeling a draw towards them currently as the season is changing.

I have this pull towards evolving, stepping outside my comfort zone. Doing things that are obviously going to benefit me, but I’m feeling uncomfortable about doing.

I’m trying to break down a few walls of comfort in an effort to evolve as a business, a brand and as a person. I’m working towards being uncomfortable, whether thats in a professional way, or pushing myself in my own life.

Instead of retreating back to where I feel comfortable when I hit that resistance, I’m trying to be ok in that sensation. Because I know that’s where growth happens.

It’s not fun, but it’s important.

The luteal phase is also where I find myself wanting more space and time to myself. So, I try to schedule that in. I’ve been working from home more. I find the balance between being social and being by myself depending on where I am in my cycle.

I made sure I had this past Sunday at home to get all the little things done around the house that I wanted to. I just really wanted to make a cup of coffee, put on some music and clean my apartment.

I find something about ending my week that way very cathartic, and it sends me into the upcoming week feeling fresh, revived and ready to go.

And just like that I like to plan out some time to do things that I want during my different phases.

What do you feel yourself drawn towards at the end of your cycle?