Do You Need Stronger Boundaries?

Time to Ponder

We don’t see ourselves as patients, even when the symptoms are screaming at us. Even though I was struggling mentally with burnout, I was still able to get through my tasks. So I pushed on.

After many weeks of waking up feeling worse and worse each morning, I decided it needed to stop. On the day I shared with my program director that I was experiencing marital stress I was given a six weeks stress leave.

Why are women more prone to burnout?

Without sounding sexist, the research shows that females are more prone to burnout than their male counterparts. The idea behind it being the multiple hats women wear at work and around their homes.  Some moms like me are cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs while being the sole breadwinners. We are generally un-glorified house maids. I’m sure that having a support system – a close-knit community – would have helped me see the signs of burnout sooner.

Don’t wait until your health fails to realize you are not invincible. Draw boundaries.  Ask for help. Build your support system. Today.

Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of your life are you feeling like there is too much on your plate? Write the specific tasks you feel are too much or name the roles you are trying to fill, perhaps as your spouse’s bookkeeper or PTA treasurer.
2. How can you draw boundaries around the time you give to others? Perhaps you need three months of saying no to all asks for your time. Or maybe you need to structure your schedule better using a calendar app and give yourself plenty of time for each task while booking in blocks of time for yourself.