Femenine productivity

Hello Enthusiastic of Knowledge!
Today's newsletter is all about femininity ❤️

Two days ago, I participated in a masterclass on “feminine productivity.” 

The incredible woman leading the session truly inspired me. Recently, I haven't felt very good about my productivity, but she showed me a new perspective that helped me reconnect with my best self, making me feel connected with myself and my potential.

So today, I want to share this with you, hoping it will help you too.

Man and Woman

Men and women are very different physically, but we often forget just HOW different we are.

Society is still largely oriented towards a system based on the needs of men rather than those of women.

For example, did you know why you often feel cold when you enter a building?

Because the ideal room temperature is based on the male body, which is generally warmer than that of women.

The same goes for work or school schedules, which are based on the idea that everyone can be equally productive every day.

For men, this is indeed the case. The pattern of male testosterone is daily, with peaks and troughs in the same wave every day. This allows men to be equally productive every day.

But if we look at the hormone patterns in women, it is very different.

Women follow a cycle that repeats not daily but monthly, about 28 days, varying from woman to woman.

During these 28 days, there are days when we are more productive, days when we are more creative, days when we are more social, and days with less energy. Yet, despite these physical changes, we ask ourselves to be equally productive and perform the same type of work every day.

Schools and workplaces demand this from us, basing their expectations on the pattern of male hormones.

We are not less productive, but we are productive in different ways. If we ask ourselves to be equally productive every day, we will inevitably fail on some days and feel guilty about it.

In fact, throughout the month, we have four main phases in which our energy changes. There are days when our testosterone is higher, and we are more energetic and productive, and focusing is easy. Then, there are phases when we are more creative but prefer to be alone, and days when we are much more social.

But this is not a limitation at all. In fact, we can see it as a strength.

Recognizing the different phases of the month allows us to work WITH our hormones instead of against them, and in doing so, we feel better about ourselves every day and achieve much higher quality work, bringing the feminine touch that makes what we do special.

The trick to doing this is to create a monthly schedule instead of a daily one.

Here is a general example of the four main phases of our month:

Every woman experiences variations in the duration of these phases, so a good habit is to track our mood and identify which days correspond to the different phases for us.

Monthly study schelule

Based on this, a useful tip is to follow the phases of the cycle to allocate tasks accordingly.

For example, use the follicular phase (when you have more energy and focus) for tasks that require dedication and productivity.

Utilize the ovulation phase for creating new things and working in teams.

During the luteal phase, instead, when we want to nurture ourselves, set goals, think, learn new things, study, or review with flashcards, and embrace playfulness and lightness.

This chart provides an example of activities for each phase:

Positive Morning Routine

Based on the fact that we're not the same every day throughout the month, we can't expect to have the same routine every day.

An interesting solution proposed in the masterclass is to create three different routines to alternate between in the various phases of the cycle.

For example, on days when we feel immediately productive, the morning routine could simply involve getting up, having breakfast, and diving straight into work or study.

Other days, we need more time for ourselves, so perhaps dedicating the first hour of the morning to leisurely breakfast, meditation, journaling, or yoga before starting work.

Allowing yourself to follow your body's needs will enable you to be more positive and, consequently, to accomplish better work throughout the day.

Accepting the different behavior of our body and committing to work with it rather than against it allows us to feel more accepted and loved by ourselves.

I hope this newsletter has been helpful to you, especially if you sometimes criticize yourself for not always being as productive as you would like.

Perhaps it will help you find greater alignment with yourself and experience more joy in each day and moment.

Let me know what you think❤️

Talk to you soon,

Isa