Being a mom comes with a lot of stress, regardless of how much self-care we try to work into our routines.
Many moms feel that they don’t have enough time in the day to get things done, or they struggle with financial insecurity, relationship tension, self-doubt, and isolation.
On top of that, working moms also deal with the typical stress that comes from their jobs. A recent analysis found that of the 35 million working moms in the U.S. at the end of 2019, 9.8 million of them were suffering from workplace burnout, according to an article by CNBC.
Stress can have negative effects on your body, your family, your career, and your relationships. Part of the reason is that moms rarely get advice on how to proactively manage their stress and face various cultural expectations that hardly account for each woman’s individual circumstances, according to an article in Psychology Today.
Instead of finding a sustainable strategy to manage stress, moms often rely on “self-care” rituals like bubble baths, watching TV, or a night out with friends.
Relying on self-care to recharge is rarely enough. And that’s OK.
Self-care can be a great way to unwind and clear your head, but it won’t be enough to overhaul the major issues that are causing you stress. To do that, you have to do some serious soul searching and probably have a few uncomfortably honest conversations with your loved ones about how stressed out you are and what you think could help.
What else can moms do to manage stress?
1. See a therapist to talk about managing stress
A cognitive-behavioral therapist may be able to help you find healthy and effective ways to cope with your stress and meet your personal goals. According to the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, CBT therapists will focus on your current situation, your beliefs, and personality traits to develop a plan to manage your life and work. You can search for a qualified CBT therapist on their online database.
2. Hire a regular babysitter, or arrange a babysitting rotation with neighbors
Modern moms, particularly moms with full-time jobs, need to have time to focus and take care of their personal responsibilities. One of the best ways to take some time for yourself is finding a way to work in regular babysitting sessions in your week.
Sources
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/03/millions-of-working-mothers-in-the-us-are-suffering-from-burnout.html#:~:text=There were about 35 million,440,000 working parents, including 226,000
https://www.abct.org/Information/?m=mInformation&fa=fs_stress Post Excerpt