Menstruation or periods are annoying and tough for women. Periods come knocking — so often banging— at our door for 450 times in a lifetime. Around 60 percent of women go through spoiling menstrual cramps that put a break in their daily life activities. Not only period cramps also these symptoms of PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrom) condition that starts affecting our behavior, emotion, and physical health about a week before our menses.
- headaches
- mood swings
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- fatigue
It doesn’t matter how many periods we have got till now, we still got affected. In most cases, periods cramps (spasms) can be prevented. You just need to do some lifestyle changes, to make your periods easier.
Try out these 14 life-changing hacks to make your periods happier:
Table of Contents
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
It is always important to eat healthy food but if you are having major period cramps then you should watch out for what you are having just before and during the period cycle. you should avoid having fried, refined sugary foods, fatty meat, heavy dairy products (milk puddings, ice cream, cheese, hot chocolate, pancakes, milk chocolates, etc), and processed salty food. instead of these, you can add leafy greens, whole grains, and nuts to your diet.
HEAT THERAPY
A heating pad or hot water bottle can be a good option to relieve period cramps. Put it to your lower abdomen, you’d be wondered how much comfy and coziness it will bring to you. The warmth of the heating pad is relaxing, it stimulates the blood flow and eases the menstrual pain.
DARK CHOCOLATES
Periods are the best reason to get your chocolate on. It will feel great, taste delicious, and help fighting cramps. Dark chocolates contain magnesium and antioxidants, having it will help to regain these nutrients that you were losing in heaps because of menstrual flow. Make sure that you get dark chocolate that contains 80% or greater cocoa — the higher cocoa % — the better results.
TRACK YOUR PERIOD
Sometimes periods bang on to us without any indications or symptoms. There are many programs and applications that assist you in tracking and knowing your own menstrual cycle. This way you can know when your periods are landing — no more guessing or stressing! This simple hack will save some of your jeans and bedsheets. Here are some best period tracker apps that you can prefer:
- Eve
- Pink pad
- My calendar
- Clue
- Flo
- Magic girl
YOGA POSES TO EASE PAIN
No one is asking you to run in a marathon. Doing yoga and exercise are beneficial for relieving cramps and to improve your mood. If you can’t do it regularly, do it just 5-6 days before your periods you will surely see decrement in your cramps. Yoga poses like seated forward bend, wheel’s pose, bridge’s pose, and more are the best.
For a detailed explanation about these yoga poses click here.
COCONUT WATER
Heavy periods or heavy blood flow can result in exhaustion and dehydration. Drinking more water or having coconut water can help it. Potassium, calcium-rich coconut water prevents water retention, and bring relief to PMS symptoms.
Having water-rich fruits like oranges, watermelon, cucumber are good options too. These fruits can hold You back from your sugar craving without intake a lot of refined sugar, which can make your period cramps worse.
FALL ASLEEP WITH LAVENDER
Many women face difficulty in falling asleep during periods. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow at night before sleeping. You can also get it in a lavender-scented candle. Lavender works as an anxiety reliever, it has a relaxing smell that helps to calm your mind and reduce restlessness.
SAY ‘NO’ TO CAFFEINE
I know it will be difficult for you to say goodbye to your magical morning beverage but it will be good for painful cramps. It is scientifically proven that a daily intake of coffee during menses can make your cramps even worse.
You can take ginger or any herbal tea as an alternative. A warm mug of ginger tea works great in nausea and periods. It has inflammatory effects that soothe achy muscles and bring relief to your abdomen cramps.
If you are a coffee addictive then cutting it out completely can give you headaches too. Don’t skip it completely, start your day with a little bit, or a half mug of coffee and then switch to ginger tea for the rest of your day.
MEAT TENDERIZER FOR REMOVING STAINS
Sometimes periods are like those unexpected guests who come without informing & your clothes get ruined. But you did not actually ruin it. Meat tenderizer is a savior for your jeans and bedsheets. It is not only cheap also works well for especially old stains. Sprinkle some tenderizer powder on stains, add enough water to make a paste, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse with water.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT PIMPLES
Do you know why pimples attack your face especially during your menses? It is because of hormonal fluctuation, progesterone, and estrogen levels drop just before your menses start. Your skin becomes more oily, you can use benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products to exfoliate your skin and reduce excessive oil.
HOT SHOWER & HYGIENE
As you can’t take leave from your work and studies every month because of your crippling cramps. So this hack will definitely work for you. Take a hot steamy shower, this will soothe away your pain and you can resume your daily duties happily.
You should take shower daily during your periods, it’s hygienic, feel fresh, and improves your mood.
MASSAGE WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are commonly used in food and beauty products. Do you know they can be used in Aromatherapy to ease menstrual pain? Mix a few drops of essential oil with some amount of your preferred carrier oil in a bowl. Massage it on your abandoned and other affected areas at least 5 days before your periods start.
MENSTRUAL CUPS
You should do experiments with different products. Give it a try to menstrual cups, they are amazing you don’t even realize that you are on periods. Menstrual cups are cheaper and eco friendly. you don’t have to buy them every month like disposable pads.
For more information, you can visit my blog on Menstrual Cups.
PERIODS POSITIVITY
How you feel about menstruation hugely alters how you will experience menstruation. The disgrace of menstruation and bad social messages being a negative impact on how we experience menstruation. A change in attitude towards menstruation will change how a person is experiencing menstruation.
These are the simple and easy hacks to make your periods a little more enjoyable and more comfortable.
Great list, previously I used to have extreme pain, but now it is a bit less as I use to follow few of your tips. Yes they really works.
Thank you for posting this! I had no idea that coconut water can help, such an amazing tips thank you
Thanks for sharing these period hacks. I struggle with period pain and PMS. I want to try eating dark chocolate during my period. 🙂
I learned the hard way with caffeine while on periods. Thanks for the post
My hot water bottle never leaves my stomach during my time of the month! Great tips! 🙂
Great tips!
Great tips! Yoga has worked quite well for me too!
Perfect hacks explained to make periods a little more enjoyable and more comfortable.
https://www.periodhub.com/