Every woman I know in the workforce tries to do and have it all. We're up early in the morning and go to bed early the next morning. We're running at 110 percent trying to make our families, coworkers and peers think we're perfect at everything we do. We sacrifice our personal time and sleep to keep all of the balls up in the air. Then, when you least expect it, you look down and there's a stain on your superwoman cape!
The million things you did right today don't seem to matter. They're focused on the failures. You missed a deadline at work, or you didn't get that project done as promised. Your family is standing at the door waiting to be taken somewhere, ready to eat, or prepared to bombard you with requests and you haven't even taken you heels off yet. You were late to a presentation and you're simply not as prepared as you normally are.
You find yourself locked in the bathroom and the world keeps banging at the door.
You don't have the mental or physical strength to do another thing, but you have to. You've set the bar so high that you consider yourself to be a failure if you don't keep everything going at 110 percent. And the more you do, the worse everything seems to get. You're falling further and further behind on all fronts.
Then comes the guilt, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, pessimism and just plain empty feeling. There are tons of articles now speaking on this syndrome, which says that what we're feeling is very real.
WHO CAN HELP SUPERWOMAN WHEN SHE NEEDS HELP? Here are seven tips to help you get back on track.
1.Forgive yourself. You're not a deity or bionic. You are human and it's okay to be imperfect.
2.Say "no." Be realistic on what you're really capable of doing all at once. If you set achievable expectations with everyone around you, then you can and will do a fantastic job on those things you've committed to.
3.Delegate, delegate, delegate. Expect more from those around you. The best managers are those who delegate and supervise when needed instead of micromanage every aspect of a job. You'll find everyone around you will step up if you let go of perfection and show appreciation for their help.
4.Do "you." The airlines have it right: put your oxygen mask on first and THEN try to assist others. If you don't take time to do something to make yourself happy, then you'll become resentful to those you're helping because they're having a great time and you're not.
5.Talk to someone. Pressure will burst a pipe. Keeping all of the frustration bottled up without an outlet is a sure-fire way to explode on someone unexpectedly and may cause irreparable damage. My significant other knows that there are times I just need to vent. He sits there, listens, comforts and offers an ear rather than advice.
6.Reset. Take time to reprioritize your life. Go somewhere quiet and turn off the phone and computer. Take out a pad and pencil and write down all of the things you have to do. Then, reorder the list and start to push things from today to tomorrow.
7.Don't let their Kryptonite suck you dry. Realize there are going to be those around you who'll never let you forget you had a stain on your cape. And no matter how much you do you, they'll never change their perception. And that's OK. Accept it and continue on.
You can't -- no matter how hard you may try -- change what happened yesterday. It's gone. But you have right now. Start right now to fill, not overflow, your cup. And take a moment to reflect. The things that were important to you five years ago probably mean nothing to you now. And the same will be said five years from now. Enjoy life instead of running through it.