Coming from a corporate background, it took me a while to find my groove in how to manage my time as a mother and self-employed. Recently I have been asked how I structure my schedule and routine.
I remember in the beginning of becoming a mother and then self-employment, how I tried to mimic what I learned in corporate and fill my time with activities to keep myself “busy”. Pretty soon I realized what an opportunity I was missing. I had the chance to strip away all of which I learned and connect with my true inner rhythm and the natural cycles around me. Slowly, but surely, I began to rewrite what I saw as "productive". Affirming to myself that rest is also productive and part of the cycle. I surrendered to my energy levels, tiredness, enthusiasm, creative energy and whatever was currently present within me. This took practice, time and patience.
Aligning with my menstrual cycle
I first began to tune into my menstrual cycle. Beginning to observe how my cycle even works. Using natural contraception since years, I feel it all in my cycle. The low’s, the high’s in my emotions and energy. I began to understand that my most productive and social phases were more or less the first two weeks of my cycle. And how the last two weeks were best for creative, solitary and organizational work.
This gave me inspiration on how to schedule my time for social activities, meetings, sessions, creative work, self-study, etc. Knowing how my energy best operates during my menstrual cycle gave me a deeper understanding as to when was best to do what.
How I first started using my menstrual cycle to schedule my routine, month or work week was by tracking it. Knowing what day and phase I was currently in. Getting to know your menstrual cycle is such an eye-opener to understanding yourself better.
Aligning with nature and the cosmic rhythms
What I also did was look outside of me for inspiration. I looked at the rhythms of the cosmos, the moon and nature to understand the cycles and what it means to live cyclically. What I discovered is that even the cosmos and cycle of nature has a structure that goes like clockwork. There is a phase for regeneration. There is a phase for creation. As well as phases for growth, transition and transformation.
What that says to me is that we, too, go through all the phases of a cycle, within as without. We are consistently moving towards regeneration and renewal. It means that we, too, need structure in order to thrive. Structure creates a foundation to build and thrive on. It is the healthy masculine energy that holds the unpredictable energy of the creative feminine force.
Cycles I looked for inspiration are:
Lunar cycle, in particular the New and Full Moon to set goals, intentions in the beginning of a new moonth and do any healing work on the Full Moon. Read more on the lunar cycle.
The planets and the days of the week - every day of the week holds a different energy.
Astrological transits (Mercury Retrograde, Eclipses, major transits, etc.) - always good to keep an eye on to understand if the energy is supportive of launching and new beginnings or not. Read more on Mercury Retrograde and Eclipses.
The inner seasons we go through in life - there are phases in life where we feel overall more creative, productive or more inclined to rest and do the inner work.
May this create a web of inspiration to finding your own inner rhythm in life, work and beyond.
About the writer
Inés Kelly is a trauma-informed space holder and integral guide in Human Design and astrology. Her multi-cultural background has gifted her with the insight of various rituals and traditions. Bringing the ancestral and the honoring of the natural cycles to the community is a deep value she holds.