For many working moms, the balance between career and family can feel like an endless juggling act, often leading to overwhelming stress and exhaustion. The pressures of maintaining both a career and a home can take a serious toll on a working mother. According to a recent study by Gallup, 81% of working moms face burnout while attempting to “manage it all,” but there are ways that working moms can indeed find time to prioritize their own well-being and self-care so that they can avoid burnout.
The Gallup poll study notes that for many working women, they are always on. Whether they are tending to a “work” emergency at home or a “home” emergency at work, there is never a lull in the fires that they need to put out.
“For many working women, trying to find balance between work and life feels like a perpetual tug-of-war with each side demanding an increased level of presence and attention. About one in six women (17%) report having to address personal or family responsibilities at work daily or several times a day (vs. 11% of men),” the research from the poll research states. “Similarly, 18% of women say they need to address job-related responsibilities outside of working hours at least daily (vs. 15% of men). Women are also more likely to think about work during their personal time each day (39% of women vs. 37% of men).”
“These daily disruptions — whether it be scheduling dentist appointments for children between meetings or answering emails after hours — are associated with higher levels of stress, worry and burnout. Women who report managing all three of these previously mentioned behaviors daily to several times a day are 81% more likely to feel burned out.”
So, just what can be done to help these moms avoid burnout and prioritize their own well-being and self-care?
Well, according to the Gallup research, organizations can provide more flexibility in the form of a better work environment for women as traditional 9-5 jobs are sometimes not feasible. Also, the research suggests that in addition to flexibility, organizations can also help to foster a sense of well-being by providing resources and support systems where needed.
“Building a culture of well-being starts with leaders demonstrating desired behaviors, fostering open communication about the importance of well-being, actively highlighting available resources, and making the employee experience a central focus of their organizational strategy.”
Outside of the office, there are a few things that working moms can do for themselves to ensure that they are staving off burnout on their own.
- Schedule “me time”
- Set boundaries at work
- Delegate tasks
- Meditate
- Exercise regularly
- Create a self-care routine
- Learn to say no
- Prioritize sleep
- Eat balanced meals
- Unplug from technology
- Socialize with friends
- Engage in a hobby
- Simplify your schedule and delegate
But most of all, don’t forget to celebrate the small wins and give yourself some grace!