How to Not Let PMS Rule Your Life

Let’s set the scene – you’re in the supermarket, your skin has broken out and you want something to cheer you up but they’ve run out of your favourite dessert – and you’re filled with rage… You ask yourself, ‘what is happening to me?’ Then you realise, you haven’t checked your period tracker – your period is due. Mystery solved.

Sound familiar? Yep, they do to us, too. PMS is real. If you experience intense PMS symptoms then you’ve come to the right place. Here are our tips for how to not let PMS rule your life.

Premenstrual Acne

If we knew the answer to this one, we would use it on ourselves, trust us. Unfortunately, acne around your period is, most often, hormonal, so there’s not much that you can do apart from wait it out and try to keep it in check with your skincare routine. The best way to do this is to tailor your skincare to follow your menstrual phases.

A lot of people swear by maca root powder to balance hormones. Maca is a plant that’s native to Peru – and is otherwise known as Peruvian ginseng. Supplements aren’t for everybody, though, so do your research before you take anything to make sure it’s right for you.

Read more about maca root’s uses.

Intense emotions

There’s no easy fix for this one. You just have to ride the uncomfortable feelings out.

Deep breaths and mindfulness exercises might help you to acknowledge your emotions, without letting them overwhelm you. This is easier said than done, but practice will help you to perfect your technique and achieve a feeling of calm.

If it’s really just all too much, then have a stomp or a cry, and remember that emotions pass like the weather – and this, too, will clear very soon (most likely as soon as you start bleeding!).

Period bloating

PMS bloating is the worst – but there are ways to reduce the gas and water retention that comes along with being due on your period. One way is to avoid carbonated drinks – these might be tasty, but they’re full of gas and sugar. The gas puffs you up and the sugar is inflammatory.

Another tip is to do some gentle exercise to keep your body moving and stretch the muscles around your abdomen. Here are our top five period exercises – give them a go and see if they help to reduce the bloat!

Extreme fatigue before period

Listen to your body – go with it, not against it. That’s not always possible in this busy world, but it’s the world that should be adapted to our bodies, not the other way around.

This means that if you have to cancel plans midweek to fight the menstrual fatigue, then go for it. Or if you need an extra hour in bed on the weekend, then allow that for yourself. Your body will let you know what’s best for you. In a week or so, you might be buzzing with energy so save any big projects for then!

Do you have any other tips for dodging the worst of the PMS symptoms? Let us know in the comments.