How to Sync traveling with your monthly cycle and have the best time on the road.

Have you ever wondered if you should travel to destination A or B? You can’t make up your mind. Or a scenario that triggered you, such as a delayed train or a ticket for wrong parking, and you burst out in tears. Wondering why suddenly you are so sensitive? Or maybe you go for an exploration all by yourself, but a few days ago it bothered you going alone.

In this post, our fellow blogger Lisi, from Escapingworlds.com, will share her knowledge about traveling with our monthly cycle in mind and how to have the best time on the road. (See her BIO at the end of this post)

Travel can be overwhelming. Knowing your female body and its monthly cycle will help you navigate through it and understand your reactions to certain situations.

As a woman, you are a cyclical being. Each phase of your cycle makes you feel different, and you can use unique skills. You can adapt your whole travels to your cycle. In each phase, you should do different activities and eat different foods, and you are more or less connected to your inner voice.

What is cycle syncing?

First, I’m discussing the natural cycle of women, excluding those using hormonal contraception. Doctors often prescribe the pill for severe menstrual pain or other issues but rarely mention its dangers. Numerous studies highlight the risks, including increased depression and suicide among users.

Unfortunately, this topic isn’t discussed on a broader spectrum. Most women only know about the menstruation phase. However, women have four cycling stages: the cycle starts with the menstruation phase, women release the unfertilized egg plus the endometrium. This is followed by the follicular phase, where the brain releases hormones to stimulate the production of follicles that will later become an egg. The ovulatory phase is when the ovary releases an egg.

The luteal phase follows, where the egg travels down to the uterus and prepares your uterus for a possible pregnancy. Because different hormones are higher or lower during each phase of your cycle, you will feel different, have more or less energy, and need more or less time alone.

Let’s explore how you can align your travels to your monthly cycle, also known as cycle syncing, to make the most of your cyclical nature.

Traveling while menstruating – Your winter phase

The menstrual cycle begins with the first day of the cycle, the first day of bleeding. Unfortunately, many women have never been properly introduced to menstruation. It is time to do less and indulge consciously. Many ancient tribes practiced this.

What if you are menstruating on your travels? You made plans and laid out the itinerary for the day, but your menstruation started. Please don’t see your period as a burden. Use it to your advantage. It might give you time to stay at your place of accommodation.

Journal what happened during the last few days of traveling or catching up with family. Especially for the worst day of your period, I recommend staying in to do some self-care.

Enjoy the tranquility of a day not filled with activities. Later in your menstrual cycle, it is a good idea to go for a walk in nature. Sadly, for many, traveling has become a huge itinerary that they have to cut off. Menstruation forces you to go at a slower pace and can trigger your fear of missing out. When did you last sit in a park in a foreign country, just reading a book and blending in with the locals? 

The menstruating phase is definitely not the time for a pub crawl, going to a big meet up or city tour. During your period, you should also avoid spending a lot on electrical devices. It can be a good time to do a digital detox.

The best time to travel: your spring phase – the follicular phase

After winter comes the spring. At this phase of your cycle, estrogen, serotonin, and dopamine are high. It is the phase where you feel confident. You get new energy, feeling much better than in the previous phase.

This is a great time to travel. Since creativity sparks during the follicular phase, you can use it for crafting, painting, photography, journaling, or mind-storming. Whether planning a trip or already on one, you can use this phase to your advantage. You can incorporate creativity into your travels with a cooking class, crafting class (something local), escape the room, drawing or photography.

While traveling, you are often exposed to trying or doing new things. In the follicular phase, you can really embrace it. Try new exotic foods, exercise, or visit social activities. It is also a great time to get out of your comfort zone.

If you’re traveling alone, it’s time to meet some people, make friends and connect. Some travel platforms you can use to meet people are Couchsurfing, travel ladies, meet up, international, or Facebook groups.

Maximize your ovulation phase while traveling.

You know about this phase, even if you haven’t tracked your phases. Ovulation is when your estrogen and testosterone levels are at their highest. This prepares your body for possible fertilization.

In other words, your sex drive is at its highest. Of course, during ovulation, your eggs want to be fertilized. If you’re single, traveling, and dating, you should be careful about having intercourse if you don’t want to get pregnant.

In addition, the high estrogen levels make your skin more hydrated and collagenized, making it more radiant—the perfect phase for a photo shoot. In the follicular phase, you are already more outgoing and want to connect. Well, the ovulatory phase is another step. Even introverts seem extroverted during ovulation.

It is a great phase to go on group trips or plan your travels so that you are going to the big city, especially if you aren’t a big city girl. It is easier in the ovulatory phase to deal with the city.

If you are in nature or camping, choose a campsite for your ovulation phase to connect with others.

Other travel activities you can integrate into the ovulation phase are pub crawls, big meetups (internations.org), group tours and trips, date nights, activities outside your comfort zone, adrenaline-rush activities, high-intensity sports, and trying new things.

Traveling during the ovulatory phase can be lots of fun. Make sure you use it to your advantage.

The luteal phase – time to cut down on travel activities

The autumn phase prepares the uterus as the egg travels down the fallopian tube. High progesterone levels help thicken the uterine lining for a possible pregnancy. During this time, you may feel more sensitive and irritable. In the last days of this phase, the body determines if the egg is fertilized and prepares for menstruation.

When you travel and an event triggers you it can hit you differently during the luteal phase, since you are more sensitive. If traveling with a friend or partner, you should also inform them that you are more irritable in the luteal phase. So you don’t have any clashes and you both know what’s going on.

The fun and busing times of ovulation are over. Your travel activities, such as visiting a museum or a walk in nature, should become calmer. Make sure you cut down on activities and turn inward. You can integrate meditation or yoga into your travels. If you are traveling for a long time and have a temporary home, do some deep cleaning.

You will find it easier to do things alone or get things done. The luteal and menstrual phases involve focusing more inward and being alone.

During the luteal phase, you may also experience increased hunger. This is totally normal, and therefore, it is good to eat more carbohydrates.

If you’re planning a trip, consider scheduling it so that you return during your luteal phase. This will allow you to transition from the hustle and bustle of ovulation to the calm of the luteal phase. Be aware, however, that you may experience heavy or sad feelings during this time, as increased sensitivity can affect your emotions.

My travel Experience

If you were wondering what a cycle sync trip might look like or how I used to travel before I learned about cycle syncing, here is my experience. I extended the European summer a few years ago and went to the Balkans. I

n Albania, I really wanted to go to the Albanian alps and make a mountain crossing. I met some other travelers who joined me. After a long day of hiking, we arrived very tired and exhausted at the village of Valbona. I went to bed early, and the next day started early. It took a full day to travel back to Shkoder, where I left my big backpack in a hostel. The trip to Shkoder was by car, boat, and car again.

The trip with the boat was nice, with beautiful weather and scenery. However, I felt a bit off. The next part of the journey was rough. It was an off-road, bumpy and humpy street. Winding through the mountaineers’ landscape. Usually, I’m not that sensitive, but this day, I was. I’ve got my period on that day.

When I arrived at Shkoder, I felt really sick, with a runny nose and throat pain. Back at the hostel, I changed my reservation to a private room and stayed for 2-3 days. I really need this time for myself.

Recently I went on a trip and booked a bit last minute because I wanted to wait to figure out when my period started. In summer, it can be a bit irregular. It was early, my menstrual period started on Monday instead of Friday. So I booked a trip for the weekend because I knew I could do those outdoor activities during my follicular phase. As a result, I had a really great time, biking and hiking in nature, and exploring new places.

Traveling and cycle syncing: final thoughts

This article has given you an overview of how to use your monthly cycle to your advantage when traveling. It is not always easy to consider your cycle when traveling. Especially if you have irregular cycles, you can give yourself time and space to integrate one or two ideas from this article.

You can use this knowledge about your travel cycle, the trip preparation, and when you come back. I got many helpful insights from the German book “Der Zyklus-Code” by Sina Oberle, as well as online articles and YouTube videos.

Summary- a Checklist to remember from this Article

  • Menstruation Phase: inward, self-care, rest
  • Follicular Phase: going out, try new things, creativity
  • Ovulatory Phase: out of your comfort zone, date nights, socializing
  • Luteal Phase: inward, more sensitive, cleaning
  • Travel planning – Follicular Phase
  • Packing – Follicular Phase
  • Unpacking/Cleaning apartment – Luteal Phase
  • Solo trip – Menstruation or Luteal Phase
  • Adventure trip – Follicular or Ovulatory Phase
  • Sport trip  – Follicular or Ovulatory Phase
  • Group trip  – Follicular or Ovulatory Phase
  • Hiking trip – Menstruation or Luteal Phase
  • Deciding on the trip – Luteal Phase
  • Taking passport photos – Ovulatory Phase

About the Author: Elisabeth Els (Lisi)

Lisi is an adventurous and mindful traveler from Austria. She is passionate about slow travel and learning about new cultures. With a degree in Tourism Management, Lisi uses her knowledge and experience to tell stories that inspire others to travel more consciously. Through her blog, Escapingtheworld.com, Lisi aims to inspire mindful exploration and help others connect more deeply with themselves and their world.

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