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Why Track Your Flow?

Updated: Aug 25

Tracking your cycle has so many benefits and it's a really great practice to get into from a young age and carry throughout life.  As your cycle becomes more regular over your teenage years, you may become aware that your physical and mental body will experience shifts throughout the phases of your cycle.  Tracking your cycle can really help you to tune in and understand yourself better, but to also allow you to care for yourself in the right way also. Remember - your hormones will fluctuate through each of the phases and you'll eat, move and rest differently through each... this is where tracking comes in really useful!


What are the benefits of tracking?

  • You get to know your body better - Tracking helps you tune in to what’s going on inside - physically, mentally, and emotionally. You’ll start to feel more connected to your body, your cycle and how everything works.

  • You’ll notice patterns - From mood changes to cravings, energy dips to bloating, your cycle can affect all of these. Tracking helps you spot patterns so things feel less random and more manageable.

  • It gives clues about your overall health - Your period is like a monthly check-in from your body. If something’s off, your cycle often lets you know. Tracking helps you spot those signs early. Think of your cycle as your 'fifth vital sign' - if your period goes out of whack it could be an indication that you need to look at e.g. your stress levels, nutrient deficiencies, or underlying health or menstrual concerns.

  • You’ll know when you’re ovulating - Ovulation is a key part of your cycle, and tracking can help you figure out when it’s happening, even if you're not trying to get pregnant. It’s just useful to know what your body is doing! Ovulation is actually the star of the show (not your bleed)! Ovulation is like a transaction into your 'bank of health' each month. When women ovulate, it helps mood, sleep, bone health, heart health and more. How do you know you're ovulating? A simple way of knowing is by keeping an eye on your discharge, you'll notice an egg white consistency type of discharge during ovulation.

  • You can work with your cycle, not against it - Once you understand your cycle, you can plan around it. Feeling super energetic one week? Great time for big plans or social stuff. Feeling quieter another? That’s okay too and maybe a time to slow down, fill up your own cup and find ways of nourishing yourself physically and mentally.

  • It can help with sport and training - If you play sports or do regular exercise, tracking lets you plan ahead. For example, if you usually feel tired or crampy during your period, you might rest more, fuel your body better, or chat with your coach about your performance. It takes the pressure off.

  • It makes it easier to get support - If you’re having issues like heavy periods or bad cramps, tracking acts like a mini diary. If you ever need to see your doctor, you’ll have a record of what’s been going on - super helpful for getting the right support.


How can you track your cycle?

There are a few options to use when it comes to tracking your cycle:

  • The old fashioned way - a pen and paper (you can download my free template at the end of this post),

  • Specially designed apps, some of which include;

    • Magic girl period tracker app

    • Teena app

    • SpotOn period tracker app

    • Period Tracker by GP Apps

Or obviously chat with your family or friends and see what they recommend.


It's best to use what works for you.  If you prefer to record on a template or in your diary, do that. Or, if you prefer the ease of an app, that might be your go-to.  Your best solution - trial a few of the free options until you find what works for you!


What should I track?

  • Length of your cycle i.e. is it 28 days, 5 days bleed?

  • Flow - Heavy/Light - you could record how many products you have to use each day & how often you change i.e. changing every 1-2 hours will indicate a heavy flow.

  • Physical Symptoms - cravings, PMS, headaches etc.

  • Mood changes - anxiety, irritability, sadness, anger

  • Cervical discharge - changes throughout the month

  • Skin - Changes to skin texture/oil production/spots throughout the month. You may notice you're more prone to breakouts during your bleed. This may indicate to you that your hormones may need a little support through dietary choices or you may also need to look at your skin care.


Make It Easy and Realistic

Tracking your cycle doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. In fact, the simpler it is, the more likely you are to actually stick with it and benefit from it. Here are some ways to keep it low-pressure and totally doable:

✅Start small

You don’t have to track everything all at once. Begin with the basics like the first and last day of your period. Once that becomes a habit, you can start adding things like mood, energy, or symptoms. It’s okay to take it step by step.

📱 Use a method that works for you

Everyone’s different. Some people love apps (remember - there are plenty of free ones), others prefer paper journals, printable trackers, or even color-coded stickers on a calendar. Pick a way that feels fun or natural for you not something that feels like a chore.

🕒 Make it part of a quick daily check-in

Choose a time that fits easily into your routine like before bed or first thing in the morning. Spend 1–2 minutes jotting down how you felt physically or emotionally that day. You could even set a gentle reminder on your phone until it becomes a habit.

✏️ Keep it super simple

You don’t need to write long diary entries. Use keywords, symbols, or even emojis if you want! For example:

😴 = tired

😣 = cramps

🧁 = cravings

💃 = high energy

😢 = emotional

This makes it quick and actually kind of fun to look back on later.

🙌 No pressure to be perfect

You’ll probably miss a day (or a week!) here and there and that’s totally okay. Tracking isn’t about doing it perfectly, it’s about noticing patterns over time. Be kind to yourself and just pick it back up when you can.

💡 Bonus idea: make it personal

Decorate your journal, use colours you love, or write little notes to yourself. The more you it feels, the more connected and empowering the practice becomes


Curious to learn more about your cycle or looking for a bit of support?

Coming soon to our online store: age-appropriate guides created just for you and your period.

Subscribe now to be the first to know when they launch!



Need a bit of guidance or support?

Explore the ways we can work together and book a discovery call - your call fee goes toward your full consultation. You can also download a free cycle tracking template below.




 
 
 

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