Imagine a world where a smartphone would be expected to run at 100 per cent capacity even when the battery is down to 12 per cent. That is exactly what modern society does to women – and, worse still, we often do it to ourselves. Every day brings a new list of tasks, deadlines and expectations. Whilst the world around us operates on a strictly linear rhythm – ‘the same from morning to night’ – female biology plays a completely different symphony. Our bodies operate in cycles – our energy levels, patience, resilience to stress and metabolism all fluctuate. Despite this, we are expected to perform at a consistent, unchanging level on Monday mornings, on Wednesdays before an important presentation, and even on days when we’d rather just burrow under the duvet. The art of invisible adaptation Women are masters of adaptation. When tough days come along, we simply step it up a gear: We grit our teeth when premenstrual syndrome (PMS) turns us into an emotional volcano or a bundle of exhaustion. We cover the dark circles under our