Living Well with Your Period, in Class and at Work

For some of us, having our period at work or in class is far from easy. Heavy periods, painful cramps, mastodynia… During this phase of our cycle, we sometimes wish we could disappear for three days and be left alone. But menstrual leave doesn’t exist yet in Europe. So how can you best manage your period at work or in class?

Knowing Your Cycle Well = Being Well Prepared

First, don’t let yourself be caught off guard anymore. Knowing your cycle well and paying attention to each phase makes a big difference.

First, to prepare yourself mentally. Indeed, it’s easier to put our mood swings, stress, or irritability into perspective when we know where they come from. Premenstrual syndrome is common, so don’t feel alone.

Next, to prepare physically for those tiring days. To make your period less painful, rest before it starts. Try getting a bit more sleep or doing yoga, for example.

Take Care of Yourself During Your Period, Even in Class or at Work

When your period arrives, take care of yourself. Bring a thermos of pain-relief herbal tea to sip throughout the day. Take dried fruits to boost your energy. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and pretty, and above all keep your lower back warm (with a bodysuit or camisole you can tuck into your skirt or jeans so no cold air gets in. Brrr.). If you work in an office or are a student, bring a small hot water bottle to slip under your clothes. Heat helps relieve pain! Of course, depending on your job this might not be possible, but maybe during a break.

Choosing the Right Period Protection

Whether you have a sedentary or active job, worrying about staining your clothes and having to rush to change in the restroom is stressful—and often embarrassing. First, because there’s still a taboo around periods (what excuse can you give in a meeting without blushing a little depending on the context?). Second, because depending on your job, you might not always have a restroom nearby. Fortunately, there are now period protections that last up to 12 hours without leaks. Zero waste, free of toxic components, and no risk of toxic shock (these are external protections): I’m talking about menstrual panties. With these panties as pretty as they are comfortable, stress is over.

Note that there are even menstrual panties for heavy flow!

Breathe, Take Your Time

Of course, depending on your job and the flexibility in organizing your work within your company, not everything is possible. But if you can, arrange to have fewer difficult tasks during this time or spread them out differently according to your energy. Give yourself more or more frequent breaks if that helps you decompress. And above all, take deep breaths before getting back to work.

Towards Menstrual Leave?

Very few countries have introduced menstrual leave. While it has existed in Japan and Indonesia since 1947, it is rarely used there. Unfortunately, women who request this legal leave are often stigmatized! In Zambia, there is an extra day off for menstruating employees called “Mother’s Day.” In Europe, it has been seriously considered in Italy since 2017 for painful periods.

The solution might lie in temporary remote work, when possible. But this would exclude many women in professions where it’s not an option. And according to some feminist movements, menstrual leave is seen as sexist because it could increase discrimination against women in hiring :( . To be continued…

By Elise