Texas — Ask any working mom, and she will tell you the holidays are hectic. They often carry more of the load when it comes to balancing work and family, as past research has shown.
Current statistics from an American Time Use Survey points to this, showing mothers spend an average 35.5 hours weekly working, another 13.2 hours doing chores, and 12.5 hours weekly taking care of their children.
“The Surgeon General has said, ‘let’s acknowledge that parenting is not just hard, it’s causing mental health challenges.’ There is a thing that’s called “Mommy Anxiety.” And it’s worse now than it was 40 years ago because moms are juggling so much, and the technology doesn’t help,” said Dr. Jada Jackson, president of Total Life Counseling Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Jackson has come up with a system to helps stressed out moms. It starts with having them stop trying to do it all. She urges moms to prioritize tasks and recognize that they can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything alone.
“I believe the first step is managing the workload. It is ok to ask for help,” said Jackson.
Her second suggestion is that moms open themselves up to help by delegating effectively. That means reaching out to family, friends or her community to share responsibilities.
Jackson also recommends moms make times for themselves by prioritizing self-care to recharge.
“You keep going because they need you. So, I must decide, is this something for me, which I always put myself last,” shared mother of three Tekleanna Webster.
Lastly, Jackson urges stressed out mom to set boundaries. They can do this by learning to say no to extra tasks that don’t align with their priorities, allowing them to focus on what truly matters.
For mother of two Haley Owens, giving back to her community is what matters most apart from her family.
“The most important thing I do for myself is scheduling time to volunteer,” shared Owens.