According to the American Psychological Association, 41% of US adults say their stress increases during the holidays. Another 43% report that this stress interferes with their ability to enjoy time with loved ones and friends.
As a working woman, the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year. Between planning parties, building family traditions, attending holiday events, shopping for gifts, and decorating, you may feel like you’re trying to juggle everything at once.
As your work and family commitments become more intense, you’re likely to feel unique challenges in the area of work/life balance. To maintain your well-being during this time of year, you must set realistic expectations, establish healthy boundaries, and lean on your support system.
Realistic expectations help women who work from home avoid mom burnout
To start setting expectations, think about what makes up “a good year” at work: Did you achieve your goals or help others achieve theirs? Did you learn something new or gain new skills? Was there an achievement that felt especially rewarding? These are all things worth celebrating during the holidays and reasons why we should give ourselves permission to celebrate and rest.
Setting realistic expectations for work and family commitments starts with planning ahead. Planning is the key to setting realistic expectations, whether it’s for a special activity to share with your family on the weekend or setting a limit for the hours you spend at the office each day.
Make a list of your priorities and then arrange them based on their importance. For example, if one of your top priorities is spending time with your spouse or kids, block out time in your calendar for them and stick to that schedule. If your priority is meeting deadlines at work quickly so you can devote yourself entirely to family during the remainder of the day, schedule meetings early in the morning to get work done without distractions.
The first step toward setting realistic expectations for work and family commitment during the holiday season is to talk about what’s important to you and your family in terms of both time management and balance. Talk about how much time you want to spend with each other, and once you have a workable holiday schedule, ask everyone how they feel about it. If anyone feels like their needs aren’t being met, discuss ways everyone can work together to find solutions.
Boundaries ensure executive moms can protect family time as they work from home
If you’re an executive mom, setting boundaries for work and family commitments is critical. If you don’t establish boundaries, chances are that both you and your family will suffer. When we don’t set boundaries for ourselves or ask for help from others, we can become overwhelmed by stress, which impacts our health and well-being as well as our ability to be fully present in both the workplace and at home.
To block out realistic boundaries, consider the amount of time each of your tasks will take on average. With these boundaries set, you can adjust your tasks by asking for additional help or stopping yourself when one task runs over its allotted time.
Determine ways to achieve your goals without jeopardizing others’ needs or compromising your well-being. Are there ways you can set boundaries around how much time and energy you spend on work? Is it possible for someone else to take over some of the tasks that are causing stress?
Prioritize the needs of those closest to you, but don’t feel guilty about asking for help when needed. If a friend offers their assistance, accept it with gratitude. Above all, make sure the boundaries you set are realistic and achievable. If they’re not, they will leave you feeling overwhelmed later down the road.
It may seem counterintuitive, but setting boundaries can help relieve stress during this busy time of year. For example, if you schedule time off work early on, you will have more flexibility around holiday commitments later in the season. Also, consider setting boundaries around how much extra effort others can expect from you.
It’s important to set boundaries to have time to be present with friends, family, partners, and even pets! It can be hard when your work life is busy, but it’s also important not to forget about yourself. You need some time away from the office and regular interaction with people who are important in your life.
Lean on your professional and personal support systems to avoid mom burnout during the holidays.
When your home and work responsibilities become overwhelming, seek help from the people around you by asking for help from colleagues and family members. You may be surprised by how many people are willing to pitch in if you let them know what you need.
If stress is affecting your health or ability to function at work or home, consider reaching out for counseling or therapy services. Employee assistance programs or community resources are available to offer guidance.
Above all else, lean on your support system. Whether your supporters are within your professional life or your circle of friends and family, having someone who knows your circumstances will help you feel less overwhelmed when things get stressful.
The holidays are filled with joy and excitement, but they can also be chock-full of stress and anxiety. By setting realistic expectations, establishing boundaries, and leaning on your support system during this season, you can create a harmonious work-life balance that allows you to be present for others in your life and make cherished memories along the way.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
