Planning Life Around the Cycle
More women are now saving their most important appointments, and some of their tougher workouts, for the weeks when their energy runs high. One respondent said she pays closer attention to what she eats and tries to stay aware of her emotions. Another aims to schedule big moments, such as a work presentation, during the "good" phase of her cycle, when she feels strongest.



Exercise follows the same rhythm for some. Around ovulation, one woman goes for strength training or harder sessions, then switches to yoga once her period starts. Others avoid social events in the days before menstruation.

One woman said she avoids major decisions during that time and works from home whenever she can.

Thinking about the cycle is common. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they sometimes stop to consider where they are in it, often to make sense of mood swings.



A Gap in the Workplace
Despite all this, nearly half of the women on the panel believe menstrual and menopausal symptoms are just part of life and can't really be helped. The numbers suggest otherwise. Research shows these complaints affect the ability to work for more than one million women in the country.



Employers have been slow to respond. Only six percent of collective labor agreements include any provisions for handling such symptoms. The rail operator NS is one of the few exc.