We love it when our family comes to visit. But, when Aunt Flo decides to stop by too – well, she can go back home.
Ladies, we know that having your period is a sign that you are healthy and that your reproductive system is functioning well. But, we also know it can also come with a lot of unwanted side effects.
Cramps, fatigue, and mood swings…. sound familiar?
It’s such an emotional roller coaster that can make you mad, angry and frustrated. And if you’re someone who doesn’t really get affected by PMS, we’re jealous.
For the rest of us, there are some actionable things you can do to boost your mood & help you overcome those period blues and we’re about to share ALL the tea.
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
How To Boost Your Mood During Your Period
So, your period is coming up and you’re feeling a little… off. You want to be productive and make things happen, but instead, you feel tired, bloated and meh.
As if literally bleeding wasn’t hard enough—now we have to deal with these extra feelings too?
We’re going to get into some ways you can boost your mood during your period to make it as bearable as possible.
♡ Track your symptoms.
Tracking your symptoms and emotions during your period can help you pinpoint what causes your PMS symptoms and on which day of your menstrual cycle they usually occur. This, in turn, will help you discover the foods and supplements that can alleviate those symptoms. Plus, you’ll be prepped for your own moods! LOL.
Tracking your symptoms can also help your doctors and nutritionists make helpful and healthy suggestions. For example, your nutritionist can suggest things like eating more fiber-rich foods to battle the severity of your periods. Or, a doctor can link your mood swings to low levels of calcium and prescribe you calcium supplements.
The point is: tracking your symptoms can help you figure out the cause of each symptom and then treat it accordingly.
♡ Drink lots of water.
Water is the best mood-boosting drink during your period.
You’ve probably heard of the term “water weight,” which means that drinking lots of water can make you feel bloated and even gain a few pounds, but that’s not true.
Drinking plenty of water is one of the best ways to boost your mood during your period—and it has nothing to do with bloating or gaining weight. The truth is that drinking more water helps improve your levels of estrogen, which are naturally lower when you’re menstruating. This means fewer PMS symptoms and a better mood overall.
Hot Tip: don’t just drink plain water. For an extra kick of hydration, opt for coconut water, chlorophyll water, or add Liquid IV (use code SKINNY) to hydrate twice as fast.
♡ Eat healthy fats.
Did you know that healthy fats are the key to boosting your mood and reducing the physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?
As it turns out, the hormones—estrogen and progesterone—are responsible for regulating your blood sugar levels. Which, in turn, affects the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel happy and relaxed—which is why healthy fats are so important during PMS.
Even more, eating healthy fats can help prevent the symptoms associated with PMS by improving blood sugar levels and balancing estrogen levels. When these two hormones are balanced, it can help keep your mood in check during those days leading up to your period—and even after.
♡ Take a walk.
Everyone’s heard the advice: take a walk to boost your mood. But, it’s not always that simple.
When you’re on your period, it can feel like your brain is going through a roller coaster of emotions—from feeling down to angry to anxious and back again. And while taking a walk might help with some of those feelings, there are other things to consider when it comes to how physical activity can affect your mental health.
If you want a quick pick-me-up, try walking briskly for 30 minutes or more. This can help boost levels of serotonin—a brain chemical known for its ability to make us feel happy—and decrease levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress).
Note: harder, more high-intensity exercises can actually increase cortisol and contribute to poor mood. Hence why a walk may be better than a HIIT class.
♡ Perform a light workout.
There are a lot of things you can do to take the edge off during your period, but let’s be honest: sometimes you just want to punch something. That’s why we’re recommending you go on a slow, easy run or perform a slow, weighted workout.
Exercise can help boost your mood and energy levels—and it may even help reduce symptoms like bloating and cramping. So grab your fitness tracker, lace up your sneakers, and get moving!
If running isn’t your thing, try taking a yoga or Pilates class or going to the gym with friends. If you can’t make it this week, maybe consider signing up for a class next month so that you have something fun to look forward to when your period rolls around again.
The best way to beat stress and boost your mood is through exercise. It can help you feel more energized and confident, which will help you get through those first few days of cramps and bloating.
♡ Indulge yourself.
During your period, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise, meaning that some foods will taste better than usual and others will be unappetizing. So, give in to some of your cravings.
There’s nothing wrong with indulging in some chocolate or other comfort food when this happens—in fact, it can help boost your mood. Need some foodie inspiration? Check out the sweets section of the blog.
But in addition to your cravings, we also suggest some leafy greens and other green veggies to help combat PMS symptoms. Who knows, that Double Stuff Oreo could be the deciding factor between a shitty day and a great one. So indulge yourself…you deserve it.
♡ Practice self-care.
Like really treat yourself, ya know? Take a day for yourself, put your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and take care of YOU. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the Skin & Beauty section of our Amazon Storefront to find different ways to pamper yourself AND boost your mood. You’ll find everything you need for a full on zen situation at home, plus the HOT MESS Ice Roller and PINK BALLS Face Massager to take care of any depuffing & bloating you may have.
Hope you learned some useful tips from this post to make your period not that bad. Oh to a be woman.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ check out some tips for staying consistent with diet & exercise here.
++ stalk Lauryn’s Airsculpt experience here.
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