Super Woman Syndrome
Are you always overwhelmed by the insurmountable tasks that need to be accomplished? Are you pushing to get “everything” done? Do you feel like you have to have a successful career, take care of the kids, and have dinner in your spotless house every night? Do you feel like you have to be a Super Woman?
Ten percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women compared to 3% 10 years ago. Forty percent of all businesses in the US are female-owned. However, Super Woman Syndrome is not exclusive to these groups. All women feel the pull to do more: further their careers, education, and take on the role of primary caregiver for their families.
For couples with children, women still carry extraordinary amounts of invisible weight. Regardless of your spouse’s support, women carry the bulk of this” mental load.”
Super Woman or Super Stressed?
If you fall into the category that tends to take control or take on everything (too many things), you must learn the art of delegating. Regardless of your family structure, everyone can benefit from purposeful planning. Some women who work inside the home assume that every household task falls on their shoulders. Working women with support still feel overwhelmed. No matter the situation, trying everything often leads to burnout and failure.
Delegate, Prioritize, and Create Boundaries
- Delegating Does Not Mean Failure
It can be difficult to let go of even the smallest tasks. Letting go does not mean failure, or that you can’t do something. Sometimes when we try to do it all, we lose sight of who we are. Start small by hiring a company to clean your home or maintain landscaping. Utilizing grocery delivery or saying “yes” to a carpool can provide tremendous relief.
- Define Your Priorities
First, take a focused look at what is most important to you. What do you enjoy? What do you dread? What are your responsibilities and your goals? Take time to make a list, a vision board, or journal. Once you lay out your initial priorities, break them down to include their importance. Then, take a look at your schedule: daily, weekly, and monthly. How much time are you allocating to these priorities, or do you wish you could? While some things, like cleaning our house, have to happen. However, you will often find that you are spending time the way others want, as opposed to how you want.
- Boundaries and Saying “No”
At this point, you will likely see that you have too much to do and not enough time. This is the difficult part, learning how to say “No.” Everyone wants to be helpful to others, but we often do this to the detriment of ourselves. Block out one Saturday or Sunday each month, and make plans to do something –or nothing. By having that plan on your calendar, you are making time for yourself. Even if you don’t have a specific plan, make it your time. Clean, nap, or see a movie. Don’t let others take your time, but give it to them on your terms.
A Super Woman Still Needs Support
It is very easy to slip back into your old habits without a community of support. Let your spouse, a friend, or a therapist help you along the way. These trusted allies will encourage you to continually make this mindset shift. Accountability is a huge part of being successful in all aspects of life. At Renewed Wellness Counseling our therapists specialize in targeting Stress and Anxiety. We are here to encourage you to feel good about yourself regardless of how many items you have checked off your to-do list today.
At Renewed Wellness Counseling our therapists are trained to focus on targeting Stress and Anxiety. We are here to encourage you to feel good about the Super Woman you are regardless of how many items you have checked off your to-do list today.
