When the Luteal Hits
Reclaiming My Rhythm: Day 21 of My Cycle
I felt the exact moment my estrogen fell off a hormonal cliff yesterday afternoon.
One minute I was cruising through my day, and the next, I was crawling into bed with an emotional weighted blanket of apathy, exhaustion, and a singular desire to sleep for twelve years.
Today, I have no energy to do anything.
No energy for my little corporate job.
No energy to get groceries.
No energy to prep food, move my body, or go to my friend’s dance workshop that I genuinely wanted to attend two days ago.
I just want to sleep.
But of course, capitalism doesn’t care about my luteal phase.
She doesn’t honor the sacred hormonal descent.
She just whispers, “Work your little woman body into the ground, please and thank you.”
What a beautiful world!
This happens every cycle. The luteal veil drops, estrogen packs her bags, and I’m left with progesterone doing her best to keep it all together. But the truth is, I feel depleted. And while I used to fight this part of me, I’m learning to listen. To slow down. To surrender. Even if it means fantasizing (just a little) about having a soft, steady husband who knows to show up with soup and raspberries, and quietly takes my to-do list off the fridge without a word. Or maybe a well-meaning sugar daddy who Instacarts my groceries and tells me to nap.
Shoutout to my friends for getting me groceries:
Either way, here’s how I’m actually supporting myself right now:
Napping (again and again)
Saying no to anything that I don’t authentically want to do
Eating chocolate (hi magnesium, you sweet hormonal balm)
Cuddling my cat, my emotional support familiar
Daydreaming about being held, supported, and cherished
And yes, napping again
Rituals, food, and herbs I’m leaning on in this phase:
Warm, grounding foods like root veggie soups and lentils
Dark leafy greens for minerals
Herbal allies like raspberry leaf, nettles, chamomile, and chasteberry
Magnesium-rich snacks (hello, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate)
Gentle movement when it feels good, and full permission to not move when it doesn’t
Writing, reflecting, and feeling my feels without judgment
I’m not here to fix this phase or “push through it.” I’m here to honor it.
And the more I honor my body’s rhythms, the more I reclaim my power.
Utah, November 2021.