Time of the Month
There’s a lot being thrown at women during your time of the month. Bloating, cramps, the roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes this happens before your period starts; cue premenstrual syndrome. It can be exhausting and painful and sometimes you just want to curl up in a ball and lay in bed all day. PMS symptoms, including anxiety, arrive in response to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to ease your pain and champion over mother nature. Here are some tips on how to make yourself feel better, put you at ease, and help you continue your normal day-to-day activities:
1. Stay hydrated
2. Give yourself grace
If you get in your head a lot during this time, just remember to be patient with yourself. Hormones make our emotions go off the walls and sometimes you don’t always understand why you’re feeling a certain way. Just know that it’s not going to last a long, so try to focus on what’s going on around you. If your emotions are overwhelming, grab a close friend or family member and tell them how you’re feeling. Just talking to someone can make a world of difference. Another option to get your mind off of things is to do something kind for someone you care about. More than likely, their reaction will give you comfort and ease your mind.
3. Exercise & stay active
I know it’s probably the last thing you want to do during your period. We get it. But light exercise actually increases blood flow which can alleviate symptoms like bloating and cramping. Here are a few things you can do:
- Walking
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Light jogging
4. Eat nourishing foods
We know you want a half-gallon of ice cream and that whole box of Oreos. It’s okay to indulge a little bit. But for the majority of the time, make sure you’re eating plenty of healthy foods. Substitute that high-sodium snack for a piece of fruit or your favorite veggie. Eating processed foods will only leave you feeling more bloated and heavy. Great options for snacking include nuts, avocados, fruit, and veggies. Even a little dark chocolate can help regulate serotonin and elevate your mood.
5. Self-care
There’s so much you can do to care for yourself. Throw some of your favorite movies or music on. Make a hot cup of calming tea. Take a hot shower or bath; make it a relaxing and calming environment with aromatherapy by using a bath bomb or aroma shower tablet. Use a heating pad to ease tension and reduce the pain that comes with cramping or muscle tension. Stay well-rested by taking a nap. Have your room at a comfortable temperature and turn off the screens. Getting enough rest will help you feel more energized and can help stabilize your hormones.