By tuning into the natural rhythms of your body and tracking how your energy shifts throughout the month, you can transform your period from an inconvenience into a time for empowerment.

The Oskaya girlies know – the days leading up to your period are rarely fun. You’re emotionally on edge, physically drained and mentally over it. That dinner you committed to weeks ago? Now, all you want to do it stay home, order a bento box and sit in blissful solitude while binge watching The Real Housewives. We get it.

What if we told you there’s a way to actually look forward to your period? Enter the period practice – a personalised routine that turns your cycle into a time of nourishment and rest.

THE CYCLE WE’VE LEARNED TO IGNORE

For too long, periods have been framed as something to dread. Many of us went on birth control before our bodies had the chance to regulate naturally. We were taught to dread our cycles and push through them as if they didn’t exist.

But here’s the thing: our menstrual cycles are powerful. They’re a built-in system that tells us when to slow down, when to rise, and when to lean into rest.

Each phase comes with distinct energy shifts that, when acknowledged, can help us live in-sync with ourselves.

WHAT IS A PERIOD PRACTICE?

A period practice is about creating space in your life to honour your cycle. It’s not just for the days you’re bleeding, it’s a month-long relationship with your body’s changing needs. Think of it as a personalised routine to help you feel more in control and less reactive.

At its core, it’s about listening: noticing your body’s cues, observing patterns, and giving yourself permission to respond instead of resisting.

The first thing to do is to track your period in a calendar.

It will take about 3-6 months to get good data on your cycle if you aren’t already aware of it’s length. If it’s 28 days, mark the date of your last period and count 28 days from your first day of bleeding, if it’s 35 days, then count 35 days. This is when your next period is due, so begin self-observing about a week before your period and jot down any thoughts in a notebook or your notes app.

Try to notice:

• When you feel short tempered
• When you have feelings of wanting space or solitary time
• When you feel hungrier or want to rest

These physical manifestations will be different for everyone, but they will always be triggered by the need to slow down.

By observing your natural pattern, you can start to predict the arrival of certain needs and moods. If you’re approaching your bleeding time, you know you may be a little easier to piss off, you know you need to do a grocery shop and prep meals, and to not book anything in for that time. When you’re coming up to ovulation you can schedule important meetings or events that require you to be bubbly and outgoing, or push yourself a little further physically.

Listening and working with your ebbs and flows and the tides of your cycle is powerful and underestimated.

Each month you will see the same feelings appear and learn new things about yourself. Knowing how you react and how your needs change will help you better prepare and look after yourself for next month. It’s doing things now that the later you will love you for. It’s love for yourself, later.

To kick you off in good stead, here are some ideas for routines and practises which are a good place to start.

1. Meal prepping something nourishing ahead of your bleed
2. Cleaning your space, doing washing, and putting fresh sheets on before your energy levels dip
3. Intentionally not making plans for the days leading up to, and the first few days of your period
4. Taking time to connect with yourself and your cycle
5. RESTING and allowing yourself to slow down without guilt
6. Embracing solo time – even just for two hours
7. Wearing or doing something special to celebrate your bleed
8. Taking a soothing bath to relax and rejuvenate
9. Journalling to reflect on your emotions and connect with your cycle
10. Finding time for activities you love and that make you feel good
11. Practicing self-care and self-love rituals to honour this time
12. Eating foods that nourish your body and support hormone balance
13. Learning how to ease cramps and discomfort through mindful movement or gentle exercise
14. Taking a break from social media and other distractions to focus on yourself
15. Setting boundaries with others to protect your energy during this time
16. Understanding your needs and honouring them unapologetically
17. Doing something special each month to mark this sacred time

“Women are a portal between the spiritual realm and the physical realm. The female body is the only entity in the earth that is powerful enough to bring unborn spirits into this planet. So let’s worship the female being for the absolute life force that she is.”
– Melanie Santos

WHY This MATTERS

Remember, your period is powerful.

A period practice isn’t just about surviving your cycle – it’s about thriving through it. It’s recognising that your body’s natural rhythms deserve attention, care, and even celebration. By observing, journalling, and creating rituals, you’re not only honouring your needs today but building a foundation for long-term self-care and empowerment.