In this episode of Highly Favored, I open up about cycle syncing: what it is, why it matters, and how learning my hormonal rhythm completely changed the way I move through life.

As a nursing student currently studying maternity and child health, I’ve been learning about the menstrual cycle in the classroom while also learning my own body in real time. For years, I thought I was unstable, inconsistent, or “just bad at discipline.” In reality, I was operating on a monthly hormonal rhythm and trying to force myself into a 24-hour productivity model.

We talk about:

• The four phases of the menstrual cycle
• PMS vs. PMDD
• Hormonal shifts and mood changes
• Why the luteal phase can feel so dark
• Adjusting food, movement, creativity, and expectations based on your cycle
• The privilege of having access to menstrual health resources

Your body is not dramatic. It is cyclical. And when you learn to work with it instead of against it, everything changes.

If this episode resonated, consider supporting menstrual equity in the D.C. area through Project Pink Tax (linked below).

Thank you for being here on purpose 🤍

Mental Health Support

If you are experiencing severe mood changes, suicidal thoughts, or believe you may have PMDD, please speak with a licensed healthcare professional.

If you are in the United States and need immediate support:

Call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Available 24/7, free and confidential.

Project Pink Tax

A student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free, high-quality menstrual products to communities across the D.C. Metropolitan Area. They partner with shelters, schools, and community centers to ensure menstrual products reach individuals who lack consistent access.

Learn more or support here: https://www.projectpinktax.org/donate

Sources Referenced

Better Health Channel – Menstrual Cycle

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menstrual-cycle

Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health – PMS & PMDD

https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/

NewYork-Presbyterian Health Matters – Cycle Syncing

https://healthmatters.nyp.org/cycle-syncing-how-to-understand-your-menstrual-cycle-to-reduce-period-symptoms/

The Honey Pot – Cycle Syncing Guide

https://thehoneypot.co/blogs/wellness/cycle-syncing-a-guide-to-aligning-your-hormones-with-your-cycle

Original cover art by @brittanisocial