I stopped trying to “optimize” my schedule like a machine

Hi friends,

There was a moment when I realized something had shifted—I didn’t want to work out anymore. And as someone who has moved her body ever since I was 4 years old (I did rhythmic gymnastics!), that felt… sad. I didn’t want fitness to become a dreaded chore, like a pile of dishes waiting in the sink. But that’s exactly what it was starting to feel like.

So I paused. I asked myself: Why does it feel like this for me, when others seem to genuinely enjoy movement? I knew it had to be possible to make fitness feel good again—and that I had to stop pushing through and start listening to my body instead.

BUSY DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN BETTER

My old calendar was packed. No white space. Just back-to-back tasks because I believed being busy meant being valuable. But I burned out.

Now? My calendar has space. My mind has space. And I’m actually more productive—not by doing more, but by focusing on what really matters.

And here’s the truth: most productivity systems weren’t designed for women. We’re often operating inside systems made for a 24-hour cycle—but our bodies don’t work like that. Our energy changes daily throughout our hormonal cycle.

Trying to live and work like a machine every single day led me to exhaustion. But I realized I didn’t need to completely change who I am. I still love being productive. I still love crossing things off my to-do list. It’s not about becoming a different person—it’s about slowly changing the direction of the ship.

Because ships—especially the big ones—don’t make a 180° turn in a second. You have to slowly start steering in a new direction. That’s what I’m doing now. And if you're trying to shift toward a softer, more balanced life, maybe that’s your reminder too: you don’t have to change overnight. You just have to start turning.

THE WHEEL OF LIFE: WHAT DOES BALANCE MEAN FOR YOU?

For me, the Wheel of Life is a helpful way to check in. It shows you which areas you're focused on—career, personal life, health, spirituality, finances, etc. And here’s the thing: not every area needs to be a perfect 10. That’s not balance. That’s perfectionism.

Right now, I’m focused on personal growth and career. And I’m okay with that. Your version of balance might look different—and that’s totally fine. The key is to define what balance means for you and then build around that.

I STARTED WORKING WITH MY CYCLE, NOT AGAINST IT

Learning about the infradian rhythm changed my life:

→ During my menstrual phase, I feel sleepy. I still work, but I’m gentle with myself. I don’t go on long runs or push myself too hard.
→ In the follicular and ovulation phases, I choose a more difficult yoga, boulder more, and feel powerful.
→ In the luteal phase, I switch to low-intensity movement like walks and stretching.

Cycle syncing doesn’t mean you quit life responsibilities. I get it—not everyone has the flexibility to nap on a weekday. But you can shift the things you can control, and give yourself more compassion during low-energy times.

Yoga has been a huge part of this for me. It allows me to adapt my movement based on how I feel—more restorative when I’m low-energy, more powerful when I’m strong. It’s flexible, fluid, and feels aligned with the rhythm of my body.

I LISTENED TO MY BODY’S SIGNALS

In my gymnastics days, I pushed myself so hard I lost my period. I didn’t know what amenorrhea was back then, but now I do. And I know how harmful over-exercising and ignoring your body can be.

Reading Good for a Girl by Lauren Fleshman was a wake-up call. So many female athletes are taught to override rest, hunger, and pain to meet unrealistic standards. She shares her story of being a top track athlete while silently struggling with the immense pressure to be leaner, faster, more "disciplined." She, too, lost her period—just like I did. And her words brought so much validation.

One quote that especially stayed with me:

In a world where so much of wellness is performed on social media, this hit hard. We’re told to look like we’re thriving—posting our green smoothies and morning workouts—while often suppressing how we really feel inside.

Lauren’s book reminded me that real wellness isn’t about how it looks. It’s about how it feels. It’s about listening to your body, honoring its signals, and knowing that slowing down is not failure.

If your body is shutting down essential functions—like your period—that’s not discipline. That’s a cry for help.

Fitness isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about finding what feels good and honoring your body’s natural rhythm.

Whether you’re on your fitness journey, your healing journey, or your soft productivity journey…

Just know this: you don’t have to do it all. You just have to take care of yourself, one small aligned step at a time.

Talk soon,
Veronika 🤍