Are you struggling to juggle your commitments at work as a single mother? Here are five valuable tips to overcome stress and find balance at work and parenting
Anita, a woman in her early 30s, had a troubled marriage. She took the brave decision to walk out of it for the sake of her only child. With so much on her plate and such life-changing decisions being made, stress levels were high. Ignoring her health to juggle between work, taking care of her son, and managing other chores, she was constantly tired and felt she needed to be better at managing her life.
Are you always in this state of mind and dealing with parenting guilt, too? Yes, we do understand. As a single mother, you have many responsibilities: decisions on finances, work, house chores, and most importantly, the overall emotional and physical health of you and your child. It is difficult to be calm and composed amidst this chaos in the head and heart. Unfortunately, this negatively impacts your health and work-life balance.
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Stress and its Impact on your well-being and your Relationships
As a single mother, making decisions for your life at every step can be daunting and taxing on your heart because there are more demands than time and resources for those demands. It can have a negative impact on:
Implications on mental health:
It goes without a doubt that you are not feeling your best. With so many responsibilities, it directly impacts your mental health and peace of mind. Constant irritability, inattentiveness, and a short temper are just some of the few things you may experience.
Implications on physical health:
The constant high-stress levels undoubtedly impact your overall health. The chances of falling sick, being absent from work, and being unable to do house chores effectively become a part of life. And most importantly, you are drained out without spending time with your children.
Implications on relationships:
Every day, you meet a lot of people. The stress of being a single mother can take a toll on you and cause many mood swings, possibly making you irritable, too. Your family and friends will be most affected by your moods. Your children might not be able to connect with you, which can result in a weak emotional bond with them.
Ways to tackle Stress
You are sailing in rough seas as a single parent. As the responsibility of the family’s sole breadwinner, you must be stretching yourself so thin. We know that finding a work-life balance is a challenging task. It’s best to start by making small changes. We assure you that these simple yet effective tricks listed below will help you feel more balanced.
We assure you that these simple yet effective tricks listed below will help you feel more balanced.
Focus on Seeing Things differently
Does this energise me? Am I learning something? Am I continuing to grow and develop? Does it add value to my life in any way? Ask these questions to yourself?
You must pick your battles and prioritise what’s most important for your family and yourself in the limited time. Spend your energy on something that you will cherish.
Celebrate Small Wins
Life is what you make of it, and you shouldn’t miss out on celebrating any minor or significant moments that come your way. These can be your little ones’ accomplishments, your achievements at work, or even sometimes a hard, long day. We are sure your children will love your undivided time and small moments of celebration. These are perfect for building a deep-rooted connection with your child, showcasing the importance of enjoying life’s little joys. Pat yourself on the back for every small hurdle you cross.
Focus on priorities and learn to Delegate
As single mothers, you all are doing everything for a brighter future of your children. We have spoken briefly about prioritising, but this subject needs more mention. Organising your thoughts and your day is the key for a single mother.
Prioritising helps to cover essential tasks. List down everything you want done in a day. Choose the tasks you want to do and can do. The ones that are still important and you can’t do—delegate them to someone else—a helper, driver, family, friend, or colleague. Use technology at your behest; it is your best friend, whether you are ordering veggies or paying bills. It takes a village to raise a child. Remember to seek help from your growing children. After all, you are raising them to be independent.
Set Boundaries
Boundaries are the key to feeling less overwhelmed and finding contentment. You cannot be available throughout, be it work or parenting. Saying ‘NO’ is okay and necessary for your own mental and physical wellbeing. Feel free to set firm and clear boundaries. do not worry; your children will respect you as you take a stand for yourself.
Seek Help
As a single working mother, you may be spending more time away from your little ones. And it would be best if you didn’t hesitate to ask for it. Free up your time to spend with your children as much as possible. Seeking help will bring peace and keep you away from any guilt that arises. We cannot emphasise the fact that self-care is a must.
Stress can significantly impact a single mother’s mental and physical health. Alongside this, it hinders productivity and leads to difficulty managing responsibilities. Therefore, single mothers must manage stress effectively by taking breaks, seeking support from friends and family, and setting appropriate boundaries. Last but not least, a happy you is a happy family.
Lavina has a strong passion for human psychology and a deep desire to understand the unique challenges faced by parents. Her personal experience as a parent has inspired her to establish Rooting You. Her writing offers comfort and serves as a valuable resource for single parents navigating the challenges of raising children on their own.
