Current productivity models are broken for women - here's what we can do about it.
We recently hosted a webinar - Menstrual Awareness for Working Women. And can I just say firstly how impressed I am with all the different roles and occupations that women hold. We really can do anything. But if you have ever wondered why some weeks you are smashing through your to-do list like a productivity ninja, and others you are staring at your laptop wondering how you even got this job… it is not you. It is biology.
Women’s energy, mood, and focus shift throughout the month in a beautiful (and sometimes frustrating) cyclical pattern. Yet most workplaces still run on male-centric productivity models that assume consistent daily energy, reward long hours, and measure success by output alone. Spoiler: that is a one-way ticket to burnout for women.
Here is the tea: men have a 24-hour testosterone cycle. Women have a monthly hormonal cycle. A lot of how work is structured - the long uninterrupted hours, the speed we’re expected to move at is mostly based on how men typically work and live. But it doesn’t take into consideration women’s unique needs. Like managing monthly menstrual symptoms, fluctuating energy levels or caregiving responsibilities (which disproportionately fall on women’s shoulders).
And since male-centric productivity has become the gold standard - women are suffering. When we understand and work with our body - we can get just as much done, but without sacrificing our health, sanity, or that post-3pm chocolate stash.
The four phases of your cycle (and how to use them)
I broke down each phase in the workshop along with what to eat, how to move, and even what to say to your boss.
Menstrual Phase
Energy is at rock-bottom. Your brain wants quiet, your body wants warmth. Think soups, slow-cooked meats, gentle walks, and naps you do not apologise for. Best time for reflection, planning, and reviewing the big picture.
Workplace Prompt: "I need some time to recharge before making big decisions."
Late Follicular Phase
The sun is coming out again. Energy and creativity are rising. Your brain is buzzing with ideas, perfect for brainstorming and starting new projects. Fuel it with fresh, balanced meals and strength training.
Workplace Prompt: "I have some new ideas I would love to share with you."
Ovulatory Phase
Peak confidence, peak sociability, peak sparkle. Great for networking, public speaking, and pushing projects forward. Eat healthy fats, smash some high-intensity workouts, and get out there.
Workplace Prompt: "I would love to lead this project."
(Emily in our session admitted she uses this phase for… lets just say non-work networking.)
Luteal Phase
Energy starts steady but dips towards the end. You are detail-focused, organised, and ready to wrap things up. Tackle admin, tick off to-dos, and eat grounding foods like chicken and sweet potatoes.
Workplace Prompt: "Let us finalise the details so we can wrap this up."
(One of the attendees tidied her room while listening to this part, classic luteal behaviour.)
WARNING: If none of the above fluctuations of mood, energy and focus resonate with you - there is a high chance you’re dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Seek testing and guidance from a functional health practitioner and get started with Seed Cycle Blend ASAP.
Stress: The ultimate cycle disrupter
Your brain and ovaries are in constant conversation via something called the HPG axis (Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal if you want to sound fancy). Stress, whether from workload, relationships, or skipping lunch, can totally mess with that conversation, leading to missed ovulation, irregular cycles, or full-on hormone chaos.
We talked about the five stress responses that pop up at work:
Fight – Snapping in meetings
Flight – Avoiding that "urgent" email
Freeze – Brain going completely blank when asked a question
Fawn – People-pleasing overload
Fold/Flop – Emotional collapse in the bathroom stall
Recognising which one is your default can help you manage it and protect your hormones.
Seed Cycling
Enter seed cycling, a totally natural, food-based way to balance hormones. You eat specific seeds in different phases of your cycle to support estrogen and progesterone production.
I have made it easy with Seed Cycle Blend, which has pre-mixed FOL and LUT blends (no measuring, no guessing). Just two tablespoons a day for three months and you could see shifts in PMS, cycle regularity, and even symptoms of PCOS or endometriosis.
Making workplaces cycle-friendly
The dream? Workplaces where women’s cyclical nature is normalised and supported. That means free period products, flexible working hours, wellness rooms, and menstrual health education for everyone (yes, even Dave from accounting).
Because women should not have to choose between their wellbeing and their career. And when we are supported, we are not "inconsistent", we are unstoppable.
Book your Menstrual Awareness talk for your office
If you want to go deeper into this topic with your workplace, I offer corporate menstrual awareness sessions that mix science, strategy, and education. Because if we want productive working women who don't burnout - cyclical productivity needs to be the new gold standard.
Have a great week - Rochelle x
