Cycle syncing has been a popular topic in the Internet streets, and there’s this sense that, hey, maybe we can finally look at our menstrual cycle as something that enhances our experiences as women versus something to loathe. The whole period process gives us a superpower, really.
Well, with cycle synching, you’re able to ensure various aspects of your life are aligned with the phases of your menstrual cycle. (To learn more about the specifics of each of those phases, check out this article). Cycle syncing, by the way, is something that was reportedly first introduced by Alisa Vitti, an integrative nutritionist, and women’s hormone expert, in 2014. Vitti even trademarked a method associated with it, offering a specific “framework” that “matches food, workouts, and lifestyle with your cycle phases.”
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As someone who struggled with fibroids for years (and finally had to have nine tumors removed before my menstrual cycle got back to any semblance of normal), I love the idea that cycle syncing, at least in theory, can debunk notions I’ve been taught as truths about how to navigate my period, in order to empower myself and lessen the stress in my life.
I figured let’s turn the tables a bit, especially when it comes to our professional lives, and consider how we can at least attempt to ensure optimal productivity by coordinating certain work-related projects and activities around our cycles. (And just remember, by cycle, I mean the full 21-35 days considered “normal” for a menstrual cycle, not just the 2-8 days many of us actually bleed.)
While we might not be able to totally replicate a trademarked framework for this (and would need to actually download an app or pay for access to specialized content or regimens), on the surface, let’s at least attempt to approach things from a cycle-syncing perspective based on the simple concept of it. Walk with me on this, sis.
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For example, according to experts, the follicular phase, which starts on the first day of your menstrual cycle and lasts 13 to 14 days, is a time when “energy and mood are often higher.” Cramping and other annoying (and sometimes debilitating) cycle symptoms that we deal with during the menstrual phase are not typically present at this time. For me, this is the perfect phase to do many of the tasks I’d typically procrastinate doing or work on projects that I’m super-great at doing (and love tackling).
This is also a great time to come up with new ideas, processes, and projects, approach work from a big-picture perspective, and take on the heavy lifting of activities like strategizing the management of projects, delegating leadership for completing phases of projects, scheduling important meetings, or negotiating, well, anything (deals, promotions, salary increases or service rates).
In the luteal phase, however, it has been found that feelings of anxiety are heightened and that brain fog and issues with concentration hit hard during this time of the cycle. This phase is the final one, the time when ovaries release eggs (ovulation), and lasts about 10 days (but can go 14 depending on how long your cycle is).
For me, since I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life, during this time, it’s ideal to go heavy on the journaling during my lunch (or other work breaks), tread lightly on immediate responses to emails—especially those that involve a lot of moving parts, long threads, lack of comprehension on the part of the sendee, or things that probably should be talked about in a meeting.
It’s also best, for me, to tap into joy, wonder, and intellectual stimulation (i.e. reading a chapter of a good book, playing a word game, practicing mindfulness, or brain-dumping in my notebook for at least 5 minutes during my work day).
Sometimes, it’s even good to team up with that work friend, smart colleague, or another super-positive and professional co-worker to get some good energy and vibes from them that help keep me on my A game. I often find inspiration and motivation from the people I work with, and I’m reminded, through their talents, emotional intelligence, and leadership of my own strengths and purpose in doing my job.
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Through trial and error, I’ve learned that it’s best to see the challenges associated with this phase as an opportunity to go on the self-care offense versus just giving in to the feelings and moods. (Once, when I was in this phase, I abruptly sent a rudely worded response to someone’s email and found out later that I was loud and wrong. I had to apologize and really could’ve avoided the work-related snafu had I just considered my menstrual phases and taken the aforementioned approach.)
As with anything, offering myself grace is key, especially when it comes to work, so, if I’m just not feeling well, need to take a day off, or simply need to flow with, well, my flow, I will. We all know (and science has proven) that there are several factors that affect our menstrual cycles, and to be totally honest with you, sometimes I’ve felt my most enlightened, creatively open, and energized during the menstrual phase, free-bleeding, cramps, feisty attitude, and all.
Science is science but not every month’s cycle experience is the same. And life be lifin’ sometimes. So add that.
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
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"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
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“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Taylor founded Mastermind MGMT, an agency that represents some of Hollywood’s best “image architects” like Roach, Kellon Deryck, and Kollin Carter, who are responsible for creating unforgettable style and beauty moments for celebrities like Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Taraji P. Henson, and more. Taylor and her company possess an array of functions, but her biggest role is to be her client’s advocate. We hear endless stories about how creatives aren’t paid or underpaid in the entertainment industry, but Taylor ensures that her clients get their piece of the pie. The entrepreneur opened up about her company and her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“I always say that I'm an artist advocate first, deal closer second. So my primary focus is to just make sure that the artist is getting everything that they deserve, whether it's compensation or, you know, certain accommodations, but just making sure that they have everything that they need to be able to show up and provide the best service that they're hired for,” she explained.
“So you know, in the beginning, it was hard because I didn't have any experience, and the artists who I was working with at the time–we were learning together, meaning neither of us had assisted anyone. We didn't have mentors in our specific fields. So every deal was like a new learning experience for us from the styling side and also from the business side, and so it took, you know, doing some research, using some very creative tactics, to find out information in the industry and just starting to request accommodations that I knew other artists were granted, who maybe didn't look like my artists.”
Photo by Christopher Marrs
Ten years later, there’s still not many people who are doing what Taylor is doing. However, things have gotten easier thanks to the research and connections she made in the beginning. During Mastermind MGMT’s ten-year anniversary celebration, she announced her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on helping young entrepreneurs through a 12-week program. The program is divided into “two routes.” The first route is for aspiring creative artists who want to start a business from their talent and all the things they need to learn about business, such as taxes, life insurance, etc. The second route is for practicing creative artists who are already in the industry but need resources such as how to plan for retirement or how to sustain themselves if they can’t work for a short amount of time, i.e., the pandemic.
“I just feel that I'm able to have a business and be successful because of their art as well. And so there are things that I know, I tried to teach it to them but understanding that I can only do so much because I'm not a subject matter expert in those fields,” she said. “So I at least want to be able to provide the resources, and then if they make their grown decision not to do it, then that's on them. But you know, I could be guilt-free and taking advantage of the resources that I'm also providing to them.”
Taylor continues to be an innovator in her industry by always pushing the boundaries of creativity and thinking one step ahead of everyone else. The Chicago-bred businesswoman is moving into the tech space thanks to a new invention created with her clients in mind, and she is looking forward to bigger collaborations in the future. Follow Mastermind MGMT on Instagram @mastermind_mgmt for more information.
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