Managing Menstrual Cycles in the Workplace (for people who menstruate and people who mange those who do)

The other week I was really struggling with my focus and brain fog. I had a meeting where I kept stumbling over words, losing my train of thought and having to ask people to repeat themselves. This is a sure sign that my period is starting the next week.

I’ve chatted about this a lot with other women about how our cycles play with our focus and way we work. As a society we are getting better at understanding the menopause in the workplace but what about the experience for those of us who are still menstruating. 

I went down a bit of a rabbit hole reading up on how our hormones throughout our entire cycle impacts the way we work, and put together a little infographic to help share that learning with people who menstruate, and those who manage us. (I’m clearly riding the post-menstrual climb)

You’ll see the hormone rollercoaster, and some tips on certain types of tasks that will be more successful in different parts of the month.

And lastly if you’re a person who menstruates, give yourself some grace if you’re in the low part of your cycle and finding it hard to be productive. You might have a couple of slow days but you’ll have a peak soon enough where you’ll be unstoppable.

Infographic Visual Descrition

Title: How our menstrual cycle affects us in the workplace

Subtitle:
"Our menstrual cycle doesn’t just impact us during our period. We are constantly riding the wave of changing hormones, which then changes the way we think and feel. Understanding how our periods impact our energy and mental capacity can help us structure our work, and also help us give ourselves some grace when our hormones take over our ability to focus and thrive."

Visual Overview:
The infographic features a graph showing four phases of the menstrual cycle along a 28-day timeline: Menstrual, Post-Menstrual, Ovulatory, and Pre-Menstrual. Two colored lines represent hormone levels: one for estrogen (green) and another for progesterone (orange). The lines fluctuate, rising and falling to depict changes in hormone levels during different phases.

Phases:

1. Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5):

What’s Happening:

• Estrogen is beginning to rise, but progesterone dips.
• Energy levels may be low due to pain and discomfort from periods.

How to Work Through It:

• You may prefer solo tasks while menstruating.
• Ideal tasks include analytical work like data analysis, proofreading, or reviewing processes.

2. Post-Menstrual Phase (Days 6–12):

What’s Happening:

• Both estrogen and progesterone start to rise, leading to higher energy levels.

How to Work Through It:

• Creativity is key during this phase.
• You may experience increased focus and a greater capacity for learning.

3. Ovulatory Phase (Days 13–19):

What’s Happening:

• Estrogen and progesterone peak.
• This phase is marked by high energy, confidence, and sociability.

How to Work Through It:

• Leverage your social energy.
• Ideal tasks include group projects, teamwork, and meetings.

4. Pre-Menstrual Phase (Days 20–28):

What’s Happening:

• Hormone levels start to drop as the body prepares for the next period.
• Energy and mood may dip, leading to brain fog and low motivation.

How to Work Through It:

• Focus on low-imagination, routine tasks.
• Avoid starting new projects and consider taking breaks when needed.

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