Us, Women want to have it all,and do it all but can we?
Are you trying to be "Super Woman "? or Are you that "Super Woman"?
-Loudine
THE SUPERWOMAN SYNDROME by Jennifer Keitt
Get up, make breakfast for the family, pack lunches for the
kids, drive them to school, head to work for eight hours, pick up the
kids from the babysitter, take them to their various activities, make
dinner, clean the house, run errands, help with homework, do the
laundry, check your e-mail, go to bed.
The Super Woman Syndrome is an affliction that affects many women
today. It’s the desire to do everything for everyone, perfectly, without
any time to yourself. Unfortunately, as women push their own needs and
desires further and further to the background, they are quickly coming
to the realization that the Super Woman Syndrome is far from super.
Women are slowly learning to push the need for perfection and schedules
aside – allowing time for meditation, relaxation, and their own personal
pursuits.
Where Did the Super Woman Syndrome Come From?
The Super Woman Syndrome is a result of advances in women’s rights,
the necessity for two-incomes, women in the media, and the instinctive
desire to nurture and place others first.
You see women every day on the television or in the news who run
their career, their home, and their family, flawlessly. That puts a lot
of pressure on everyone to follow suit. Women can be just as competitive
as men, and often times more of a perfectionist. Even though women have
earned many rights, there is still a lot to be won on the homefront.
Regardless of whether or not they work, women still shoulder the brunt
of the household and parenting responsibilities. Add a career into the
mix, and it’s bound to be disastrous.
Extracting Yourself From the Super Woman Syndrome
If you find that you suffer from the Super Woman Syndrome, there are
some small changes you can begin to follow to make your life less
stressful and hurried.
- Allow for Imperfections. Make planned adjustments to your day
– allowing for some imperfections. The dishes can pile up in the sink
until after dinner, the laundry can get done on Saturdays, and your
children don’t need to be signed up for every activity available in
their age group.
- Pick Your Battles. With yourself that is! You don’t have to
make your daughter’s birthday invitations, bake the cake, and clean the
house yourself – unless you enjoy it and it’s a stress reliever. Pick
one or two things you enjoy to do, and enlist the help of others
(professionally or family) for the rest.
- Set Your Priorities. If spending time with your children is a
priority, make sure to include it in your schedule. Don’t find yourself
at the end of the day, tucking them into bed, and realize that you
rushed around all day without talking to them.
- Give Yourself Permission. You need to accept permission from
yourself to be less than perfect. Do everything as well as you can, but
you don’t need to be perfect at every role you take on.
- Take Time For Yourself. Schedule in some “me time”. Take up a
new hobby, take a class at school, go the gym, or take 15 minutes to
meditate. Whatever you enjoy, start integrating it into your life so
that you have some time to relax and take stock of what is important to
you.
http://www.jenniferkeitt.com/the-superwoman-syndrome/
