Feeling wobbly in the "good" part of your cycle? Here's why...

In this post I'm delving into an often overlooked yet crucial aspect of menstrual cycle awareness—transition days. While many of us are familiar with the broader concept of tracking our inner seasons, there’s immense value in paying close attention to individual days. Let’s explore what these transition days entail and why they matter.

What Are Transition Days?

Transition days are those often fleeting moments when you’re shifting between the different phases of your menstrual cycle’s inner seasons. It might be a day or just a brief time when you feel in flux, somewhat unsettled, akin to the feeling of a gear change in a car. Sometimes it’s smooth, but other times it feels like the gears are grinding awkwardly. Recognizing and understanding these transition days is pivotal because they can often feel jarring or turbulent, affecting our daily lives.

My Personal Experience with Transition Days

Let me share a personal story to illustrate the significance of tracking these specific days. Recently, on the 13th day of my cycle, I found myself feeling unusually lifeless, with an overpowering inner critic nagging at me. It felt almost like a premenstrual state, despite being in my inner spring, where I’d expect to feel energized and productive. This prompted me to revisit my cycle journal, and upon reflection, I discovered a striking pattern: day 13 consistently carried these challenging emotions over several cycles.

Understanding such patterns offers a profound insight into our cycles. In my experience, once a transition day is identified, it allows for a deeper understanding and just that understanding can relieve some tension. This understanding not only aids in addressing these days more effectively but also provides an opportunity for growth and self-awareness.

Why Tracking Each Day Matters

Tracking each day meticulously grants us invaluable insights that might otherwise go unnoticed. These insights are like data points, teaching us about our strengths, challenges, and the nuances in between. You may discover days where you feel particularly in control and articulate, allowing you to plan significant activities on those days. It’s not merely about recognizing the difficult days but also optimizing the days where you feel most powerful.

By doing so, we move beyond mere observation into a space where we can actively engage with and possibly alleviate some discomforts or highlight our strengths. This proactive approach is far more effective than enduring inexplicable "bad days" and fosters a healthier relationship with our cycle.

A Practical Guide to Daily Cycle Check-Ins

Incorporating regular check-ins into your routine is key. I recommend doing these in the evening to reflect upon the day’s experiences. It can be as simple as closing your eyes, breathing, and taking a moment to review your day’s events and feelings. Try not to get caught up in specific stories or interactions. Instead, focus on the underlying emotions and energies. This practice reveals recurrent patterns beneficial for long-term tracking.

Having a few months’ worth of cycle tracking enables you to discern trends or recurring challenges and strengths within your cycle. However I don’t recommend looking back every single month, which can detract from your present cycle check in. I also offer a free daily cycle check-in tool in my premenstrual survival pack that you may find helpful.

Conclusion: Embrace Transition Days for a Fuller Understanding

So wrapping up, I encourage you to see beyond the broader seasons of your cycle and track each specific day. Transition days hold hidden insights and gifts that are essential in crafting a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves. Remember, while I’ve spoken largely about the transition from inner spring to summer, there are other transitions worth paying attention to—each offering their own lessons and insights.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this inspires you to delve deeper into your menstrual cycle with newfound awareness. Join me in the next episode as we continue exploring the fascinating world of cycle awareness.