Keeping track of my menstrual cycle was a key strategy that helped me (a) realize I didn't get my period monthly, and (b) get help for my loooong cycles. I got started long before the advent of period tracking apps, so I relied on the good ole paper-and-pen method.
It serves as an indicator of your overall health, and can offer insights into how subtle changes affect your body.
It helps you get in touch with your body and menstrual cycle.
You can identify period problems before they get out of hand.
It can provide data that you can use to determine your fertility window regardless of whether you're trying to conceive or trying to avoid pregnancy.
You can use the data to communicate more accurately with your healthcare team, providing them with essential details about your cycle and any underlying symptoms.
You can stay proactive about your health by picking up any subtle changes as they happen to make any necessary adjustments to your diet, exercise, lifestyle, or healthcare accordingly.
It allows you to embrace your menstrual pattern so that you can support your cycles and your cycles can support you.
It provides a long-term record of your menstrual cycles, empowering you to track your progress, notice any patterns, and promote optimal hormonal health.
I don't know about you, but I forget things all the time (even when I think that, "oh, I'm never going to forget this."). That's where tracking can be sooo helpful. It can be on an app, in your calendar, in a journal — you do you.
If you don't know where to start, check out this blog post on what to track.
The goal isn't to be hypervigilant. You want to get to know your nuances. For example, I know 2 days before my period, I get really tired.
Aaand, your tendencies and cycles will change over time, because change is a natural part of life. So, tracking over time is a great habit to form (especially period days and flow).
So, grab a pen and paper (or go download an app), and get started.
