What I Wish I Knew About My Cycle in My Early 20s
Right girls, this is a bit of a personal one. If I could go back and talk to my early 20s self, the first thing I’d say is: learn your cycle.
Not just when your period is due, not just when you might be “PMS-ing” — I mean really learn it. Understand it. Work with it instead of trying to fight it every single month.
Back then, I thought my period was just this annoying week that came along to ruin plans and make me feel tired, moody, and bloated. I didn’t know there were four phases, I didn’t know each one came with its own energy, strengths, and challenges. And I definitely didn’t know how much my workouts, food, mood, and even my social life could shift if I actually listened to my body.
I Wish I Knew…
1. My energy wasn’t meant to be the same every day.
I used to push myself to train hard all month, wondering why some weeks I felt like Wonder Woman and other weeks I couldn’t even face a Pilates class. Now I know — that’s my hormones talking.
2. Food cravings aren’t just about “willpower”.
If my body was screaming for carbs before my period, I’d get annoyed at myself for “being bad”. Now I understand that in the luteal phase, your body genuinely needs more calories and magnesium-rich foods to support progesterone.
3. Rest isn’t laziness.
In my 20s, I thought the only way to be fit was to go all in, all the time. Now I plan in rest days around menstruation and see them as part of the plan, not a failure.
4. Stress affects everything.
I had no idea that high stress could delay ovulation, mess with my skin, and throw off my period completely. Calming my nervous system is now as important as my workouts.
If I Could Give One Tip
Start tracking your cycle — not just your period start date, but your mood, energy, sleep, and cravings. Within a few months, you’ll see patterns. And when you know your patterns, you can plan for them. That’s when the magic happens.
Why This Matters for You
Learning to live in sync with your cycle isn’t about being perfect or following strict rules. It’s about tuning in to your body’s cues so you can feel your best more often, instead of constantly working against yourself.
Inside Sync with Georgia, I share exactly how to work with your cycle — from workouts and recipes to self-care rituals. I wish my early 20s self had that, but I’m glad my 30-something self gets to share it with you now.
