What Every Burnt Out Mom Needs to Know About Her Cycle with Kasia Stiggelbout
As moms, we’re often told to push through burnout and juggle it all, but that mindset can be so draining, especially when we’re trying to keep up with the endless demands of motherhood. Enter Kasia Stiggelbout, the founder of Inflow, a wellness brand designed to help women heal from burnout by aligning productivity tools with the natural rhythms of the female cycle. In this conversation, we dive into how understanding and honoring our cycles can help combat burnout, reduce stress, and empower moms to live more balanced lives.
In this episode, we will cover:
Why syncing with your cycle can be a powerful form of postpartum self-care and long-term motherhood support.
How your hormonal shifts impact your energy, emotions, and recovery during postpartum and beyond.
The connection between birth recovery, burnout, and cycle awareness for new moms.
… and a whole lot more!
The Birth of Inflow: Aligning Productivity with Feminine Cycles
Kasia’s journey into wellness and productivity tools was born out of her own struggles with burnout. After spending over a decade climbing the corporate ladder in tech, she hit a breaking point. Burnout was a real epidemic, affecting not only her but many other women—especially those balancing work and childcare.
“I wish Inflow had existed when I was going through the height of my burnout,” Kasia reflects. She points out a staggering statistic: nearly 50% of women in the workplace experience burnout, and that number only goes up when you factor in the extra load many moms carry. Her solution? A personalized planner that starts on Day 1 of a woman’s cycle instead of a random Monday. This planner is tailored to guide women in movement, nutrition, productivity, and spiritual practices according to their energy levels throughout the month, honoring the natural flow of their bodies.
Breaking the Hustle Culture
One of the core issues that Kasia highlights is the societal expectation to operate like machines. For years, we’ve been conditioned to hustle, ignore rest, and power through exhaustion with the mantra “no rest, no success.” This is a harmful narrative that women especially are pressured to follow, and it completely disregards the reality of our bodies, which are designed to work in cycles.
“I spent so many years buying into the productivity narrative: no pain, no gain. But for women, it’s different,” Kasia explains. Our bodies are cyclical, and trying to push through without honoring these natural rhythms can lead to imbalance and, eventually, burnout. This is particularly important for moms, who may be juggling the constant demands of childcare while trying to manage work and household responsibilities.
The Importance of Cycles in Motherhood
Kasia emphasizes that our lives as women are inherently seasonal, with each month bringing its own unique energy. Every phase of our menstrual cycle represents a different season—spring, summer, fall, and winter—which mirrors the natural world around us. These cycles are part of our biology, and honoring them can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
Danielle, the host of the conversation, shares her personal experience with the hustle culture, particularly during her first postpartum period. She describes how she felt the pressure to constantly “do” whenever her baby napped. It wasn’t until she deprogrammed the lie that her worth was tied to productivity that she was able to embrace rest and reflection during her second postpartum experience.
“Resting is revolutionary,” Kasia says, acknowledging that leaning into the natural ebb and flow of our cycles is a radical act in a world that celebrates constant output. She encourages women to reject the narrative of “doing more” and instead focus on how to honor both productivity and rest in a balanced way.
Yin and Yang: The Power of Rest
A critical point in the conversation is the importance of balancing Yin (rest) and Yang (activity). Kasia ties this concept to the Taiji symbol, explaining how too much Yang—constant productivity, activity, and hustle—can eat away at Yin, leading to burnout. If there’s no rain, there’s a drought. If there’s no rest, there’s burnout.
As Kasia puts it, “We’re in such a good place to change that narrative.” Moms, especially, have the power to reclaim their energy and align their actions with their bodies, recognizing that rest is just as valuable as productivity.
Understanding the Phases of the Cycle
Kasia dives into the concept of “cycle thinking”—the practice of acknowledging and aligning our lifestyle with the different phases of our menstrual cycle. She explains the four key phases of a woman’s cycle:
Menstrual Phase (Winter) – The time for rest, reflection, and inward focus. This is when our energy is naturally at its lowest, and we should honor our need for quiet and rest.
Follicular Phase (Spring) – A time of renewal and energy. Women may feel more creative, inspired, and motivated during this phase.
Ovulation (Summer) – This is the peak of our energy, a time to be social, active, and engaged with the world around us.
Luteal Phase (Fall) – A time to wind down, reflect, and prepare for the next cycle. Energy may fluctuate, and it’s important to honor the need for more self-care.
While many women are familiar with these cycles in theory, Kasia urges moms to take practical steps to align their lifestyle with these rhythms. The key is to honor each phase’s unique energy and adjust your routines, activities, and expectations accordingly.
The Power of Hormonal Shifts: How Your Energy and Productivity Change
The hormonal shifts that happen throughout the cycle can be a game-changer, especially when we really listen to our bodies. During the menstrual phase, energy is naturally lower—rest is essential. As we move into spring (the follicular phase), energy starts to rise, creativity sparks, and we feel ready to take on new projects. The summer (ovulation) phase is when we feel our most vibrant and social, and fall (the luteal phase) brings a shift where we can focus on finishing up tasks before the cycle starts again. It’s like having a natural map for your month! I’ve personally learned how to honor these phases, and believe me, it makes a huge difference in how I show up for myself and the work I do. No more forcing myself through burnout—just a better understanding of when to rest and when to go full throttle.
Honoring Your Body During Postpartum
The postpartum period is one where the imbalance between Yin and Yang can be especially pronounced. Kasia shares how, in Chinese Medicine, the postpartum period is a time to replenish the body’s “Jing essence,” which is like a savings account for our energy. After birth, this resource is depleted, and without proper rest, nutrition, and care, it’s easy to push ourselves too hard and risk long-term health issues.
Danielle also touches on the work of postpartum expert Miranda Bauer, who emphasizes the importance of nourishing the body during the fourth trimester. In many cultures, mothers are given the time and space to rest and heal, with support from family. Unfortunately, Western culture often fails to prioritize this crucial period, which can lead to serious health consequences like autoimmune diseases if not properly addressed.
Teaching the Next Generation: Raising Cycle-Aware Daughters
What really stood out to me in our conversation was the importance of teaching our daughters this cycle awareness. It's not just about menstruation; it’s about helping them tune into their bodies in a way that feels empowering, not shameful. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to raise my daughter with this understanding. I still remember the first time I truly paid attention to my cycle and how it helped me manage my energy and emotions better. The idea of normalizing these conversations around menstruation is so powerful—no more taboo, no more embarrassment. Instead, it becomes something to celebrate as a woman’s natural, cyclical power.
Normalizing the Conversation: Empowering Ourselves and Our Daughters
It’s time to have more of these honest, open conversations and create a world where cycle awareness is taught as a tool for overall well-being. Imagine if every young girl grew up understanding their bodies this way—learning to honor their cycles from the start, rather than feeling confused or disconnected. So let’s normalize this, let’s empower our daughters, and let’s lead by example, teaching them the power of knowing themselves inside and out.
By embracing your natural cycles and stepping away from the constant hustle, you can create a life that’s more aligned with your body’s needs and rhythms—ultimately reducing burnout and cultivating balance in your life as a mother.
Reclaiming Our Rhythm: Feminine Cycles in a Masculine Productivity Culture
For so long, we’ve been taught to measure our worth by how much we can produce, how consistent we can be, and how well we can keep up with a rhythm that was never designed with our bodies in mind. The dominant narrative is rooted in a masculine structure of linear productivity—same output, every day, no matter what. But women are cyclical by nature. And many of us are waking up to the fact that our bodies, our energy, and even our desires don’t fit neatly into that mold. The truth is, a lot of women want to be home with their babies in those early years—not because they lack ambition, but because their intuition is telling them that presence matters. And we can honor that desire without giving up our purpose. It just might mean getting creative—rethinking what work looks like, building community support, sharing resources, or finding ways to create income that don’t pull us so far from home. The system wasn’t built for us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build something better together.
Connect with Kasia:
Inflow Planner: Kasia’s personalized planner that helps women align their daily activities with their menstrual cycle.
Listen to The Other Way Podcast
Connect on Instagram: @inflowplanner, @the_other_way_podcast
Resources Mentioned:
Rest Is a Revolution: A book that explores the power of rest and why it’s essential for women’s well-being.
The Fourth Trimester: A book by Kimberly Ann Johnson that discusses the importance of postpartum care, particularly in traditional cultures.
Postpartum University: Miranda Bauer’s platform focused on postpartum health and nutrition.
Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters: A book by Erica Komisar that shows mothers and fathers how to give their children the best chance for developing into healthy and loving adults.
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community
CDC’s Breastfeeding Report Card: Breastfeeding rates in the United States
Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression: Research on risk factors for postpartum depression from NIH
Disclaimer: Some of the links shared in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to make a purchase through them. I only share products I genuinely love and think you’ll find helpful!
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As moms, we’re often told to push through burnout and juggle it all, but that mindset can be so draining, especially when we’re trying to keep up with the endless demands of motherhood. Enter Kasia Stiggelbout, the founder of Inflow, a wellness brand designed to help women heal from burnout by aligning productivity tools with the natural rhythms of the female cycle. In this conversation, we dive into how understanding and honoring our cycles can help combat burnout, reduce stress, and empower moms to live more balanced lives.