How to Turn Your Period Week into a Total Self Care Moment

Shark Week. Carrie. Code Red. Girl Flu. And if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, you might refer to it as the Red Wedding. All of these sneaky nicknames women have created for their period week have one thing in common: flat out pain. There is some validation to these nicknames since women typically experience cramping, bloating, back pain, food cravings, headaches, and need I go on? This week is famous for being miserable for women, but why not take it and use it as an excuse to treat yourself and make it all about self-care? Sometimes it can be tough to set aside time to really stop and take care of yourself. That is precisely why your period week should be when you stop, slow down, and honestly give your body the love it deserves. We gathered some tips and tricks to turn your period week into a total self-care moment.

Instead of wine, opt for herbal tea.
After a long day, it is easy to grab some chilled wine, pour a glass, and turn on Netflix to unwind. Despite being a wine lover, you can admit that alcohol does not always make you feel the best, and there is no need to worsen your period symptoms by getting wine drunk on the couch. A total self-care moment is swapping the rosé out for an herbal tea. There are many great teas to choose from that will make your stomach not bloat as much, for instance, ginger or peppermint tea. Many health benefits come from herbal tea, which is a natural remedy for bloating, digestion, nausea, and cramping. 

Turn on the heating pad AND Netflix.
There is nothing like laying in bed after a long day and turning on Netflix. Let's take it up a notch and add a heating pad to the mix. Sometimes lying on a heating pad is the ultimate self-care move. Even if you don't have back pain during your period, it is very relaxing and promotes heat therapy. Heat therapy boosts circulation, which then allows nutrients and oxygens to travel to joints and muscles. This, combined with Netflix, is an unstoppable duo. 

Go crazy on the chocolate.
Experts say that chocolate contains magnesium, which can help alleviate cramps and increase energy. So they are basically saying chocolate cures cramps. Experts also say chocolate contains endorphins, which is the "happy hormone." So they are basically saying chocolate cures mood swings. All jokes aside, it is fascinating that there is some scientific evidence of health benefits in chocolate, and us girls will take full advantage of that during our period week. Go eat all the chocolate you want this week because you deserve it. The experts say so. 

Give yoga a try.
As necessary as it is to get rest and give your body a break on your period, it is also essential to get a little bit of exercise. Yoga is the perfect middle of giving your body a workout, but one that is not a high-intensity exercise. Stretching and putting your mind at ease is hugely beneficial. Yoga is known to ease stress, bloating, and cramps, as well!

Try getting to bed an hour earlier.
It is normal to feel fatigued when you have your period. It is just another symptom that comes with menstruation. An ultimate act of self-care is allowing yourself to get a healthy amount of sleep. It is so easy to stay up all night on Instagram or watching TV, but if you make yourself power off the devices and focus on your sleep, you are sure to feel the benefits when you wake up. 
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We see it all the time on social media that it is important to practice self-care, but finding time in our busy schedules makes it hard. For women, our period week is the perfect time to unwind and give our bodies the rest and love it deserves. Being mindful of loving your body during the week when it is easy to hate it will bring more benefits than you can imagine.