It’s not you, it’s them: Why women experience burnout more because of the pressure and social expectations of managing relationships
Ok, so have you ever felt like you're running on a never-ending treadmill, trying to keep up with the pressures and expectations of managing your relationships?
Well, you're not alone. That is why many women end up in burnout, not that they are not strong enough, but because of the colossal weight of societal expectations and relationship management that they carry.
In this guide, we're going to talk about why women are more at risk for burnout from these pressures and give you some tips to help you navigate these choppy waters. Ready to dive in?
Social Expectations and Pressure As The Root of the Issue
At the crux of this, societal norms and expectations largely form perceptions of women regarding relationship management. From being the primary caregivers to keeping up with the emotional labor in a household, there was always an expectation of this role at the feet of women.
Emotional Labor Galore: Generally, women grow up being nurturers, and the bearers of the emotional baggage for many people in the family. This task is often an unspoken rule and many times not validated or acknowledged by others.
The role of the Caregiver: In many families, women take on the roles of primary caregivers to children and/or aging parents. This is a very fulfilling commitment but one that places more stress on them in terms of time management, prioritizing self-care, or focusing on career goals.
Stress to Be Perfect: This need to be perfect in relationships, looks, home life, and so much more is a stereotype that forces women to have everything together. Unfortunately, social media magnifies this unrealistic expectation and is a catalyst for burnout and perfectionism.
The Burnout Begins
These multiple factors combined are the perfect recipe for women to experience the toll of burnout. Now let’s consider women’s professional life. Women earn an average of 84 cents for every dollar a man earns. This being said you can only imagine how much more pressure women put on themselves to achieve professional success, be productive, or work longer hours. Women often find themselves having to choose between their professional or personal life which creates stress, frustration, and feeling overwhelmed. Women find themselves burning out faster than their male counterparts by abiding to silent culture norms and trying to keep up with overt competition that seems to be rigged against their favor.
This has become a dangerous cocktail of professional duties and unpaid relationship management at home. Watch for: Classic signs of burnout include feeling exhausted or detached and not finding joy in things that might once have brought happiness. It can also take the form of feeling irritable or otherwise incapacitated by doing the simplest things.
Strategies To Deal With Hard Times
First, you need to understand the problem. That's the first step. Then, you can figure out how to handle these pressures. Here's what you can do:
Understand your emotional cup: You may be a master at holding other people’s emotions or you may only have enough bandwidth to just manage your bad day. No matter which one it is, it is important to be aware of what you can personally handle, not what you are expected to handle.
Shake up the gender norms:We live in 2024, you're a woman and you don’t cook! Hey, it's not the worst thing in life. Don’t beat yourself up because you don’t fit the stereotypical mold. It’s important to focus on what you contribute and what you can do. Also talk about how to delegate household duties between partners, family members, or roommates. After all, it is about teamwork.
Prioritize self-care: It is not just bubble baths and face masks; self-care is about giving yourself the permission to do your hobbies, and activities that recharge your battery and rest.
Ask For Help: Ironically women are taught not to ask for help for things that should be innate, but everyone has their own capacity to hold emotions, help others, and generally be themselves. Asking for help can be cathartic in itself. Whether that means professional help through therapy or a support network of friends and family, just having that sounding board really can shift things in a positive way..
CreateNew Rules: Push back on what society says a home should look like and what success is. If the floors stay unswept one more day, and you have to order in for dinner, so be it. If your ideal family is not nuclear and you choose your career that’s okay. You get to choose your path of happiness. No one else has this privilege.
Helping yourself and others feel strong and confident
How does your company distribute the brunt of the emotional labor? It may be unconscious but do you expect the women leadership to tend to emotional personnel issues or are you expected to manage the emotional baggage of your employees. Too often is this seen as a women’s job and in reality emotional intelligence is a people's job. We have to start making emotional intelligence a norm for companies and also something to be taught versus expected. If this shift does not happen then we risk putting women leadership in a position of burnout. It is all about creating an environment in which emotional labor gets acknowledged, and responsibilities get shared in a way where taking care of you seems just as important as taking care of others.
Wrap-Up: A Light at the End of the Tunnel
As a licensed psychotherapist I have been supporting women who identify as entrepreneurs, business owners, and industry leaders to extinguish the negative impact of burnout. Since our identities are so wrapped up into pouring into others we often forget to pour into ourselves. Which leaves us depleted, stressed, overwhelmed, and burnout.
Business is about relationships but without a strong relationship with yourself first, success can only go so far.
If you are looking to end burnout once and for all and reclaim your well-being then you are in the right place. We at Wellness Workplace Solutions offer more personalized support and resources on your journey towards health and harmony. The expertise and programs we offer might just be the lifeline that saves you from the whirlwind of relationships and societal expectations.
Start living a healthier, more balanced life today. It is your well-being that really requires it. Navigate these waters with Wellness Workplace Solutions at the helm toward a brighter, more balanced future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it normal to feel guilty for prioritizing myself?
Sure, yes, that is it. But, they do say, "if you take care of yourself, you are better able to take care of others.
Q: How can I start a conversation about sharing responsibilities without causing conflict?
A: Asking for help can be scary, but remember you are doing it because you want to help yourself and the other person. Think of a message that emphasizes the benefits of collaboration and the advantages of working together.
Q: What if I can’t shake the feeling of burnout even after trying these strategies?
A: Sometimes it may be required to reach out for professional help. Therapists can, in such times, offer individualized ways and mechanisms to cope. Do not hesitate to ask for support.