A cool new tool to improve mental wellbeing
Kia ora, AWWA fam!
With Mental Health Awareness Week rolling in, I’m super excited to share a bit of my journey that ties right into what we’re all about here at AWWA. This year, we’re focusing on how understanding our natural cycles can seriously boost our mental well-being.
So, five years ago, when I was kicking off AWWA, I was also going through a tough time—think painful breakup and the challenges of single motherhood. My mental health was a bit of a mess, but during that time, I found comfort in connecting with my inner self and the natural rhythms around me. By tracking my energy and feelings alongside the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar), I started to notice some pretty eye-opening patterns in my life.
Every new moon, or Whiro, seemed to bring on waves of anxiety and drama, while the last quarter, Tangaroa, sparked bursts of creativity and energy. This realization changed everything for me! I began to align my daily activities with these natural rhythms, and wow, what a difference it made.
Now, I’ve turned Whiro into my personal self-care day. It’s all about bush walks, meditation, and journaling—my monthly treat to myself. And during Tangaroa? I harness that high energy to tackle big projects, freeing up time for chill moments later on.
This whole cyclical approach has not only lifted my spirits but also made me see a crucial truth: our society often overlooks the natural rhythms that shape our energy and emotions. We live in a world built around a 24/7 schedule, which doesn’t always vibe with our cycles.
Did you know that both our menstrual cycle and the moon phases are roughly 28 days? That’s a pretty cool connection between our personal rhythms and nature! Embracing this can be super empowering.
That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce a new free app I have been working on as my personal passion project, Ehoa! It’s designed to help you track your period and your unique energy and emotions in relation to both the maramataka and your menstrual cycle. My hope is that this app helps you better understand and support your mental health by honoring your natural rhythms.
I’m also diving into some new research on this ancient practice, and I’d love for you to join me on this journey! By participating, you’ll gain insights into your own cycles and help us explore how these rhythms influence mental health on a larger scale.
Download the Ehoa app today and start your path to greater self-awareness and well-being:
For updates, tips, and to connect with our community, check us out on Instagram: @ehoa.app
Got questions or want to chat about the research? Hit me up at michele@ehoa.app!
Let’s embrace our cyclical nature and deepen our connection with ourselves and our mental health.
Ngā mihi nui,
Michele
