Do you suffer from Supermom Syndrome? Maybe you haven’t heard of this phrase before but chances are you’re either living it or you know someone who is.
When you’re living like Supermom, you’re often working at least one full-time job, raising a family, managing a household and taking on more and more in your day-to-day life. Even if you have a supportive spouse or partner, you may still refuse to ask for help.
Stress is the Villain.
Taking on too much creates stress, and stress opens the door for a multitude of health problems. When you experience stress, your body releases cortisol, a chemical that forces the body to store fat around your organs. This visceral fat can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and dementia.
Some symptoms of stress include:
- Lack of focus
- Fatigue
- Short temper
- Erratic diet (not eating or eating too much)
- Forgetfulness and mental fogginess
- Headaches
- General aches and pains
Don’t Just Save the World. Save Yourself!
Ironically, when women stress, most react by nurturing those around them, instead of using some of that energy for their own self-care. As providers, it’s important to take steps to stay healthy, so you can feel confident that you’re meeting your obligations and you’re caring for your loved ones to your highest ability. Giving a bit more to yourself can have a tremendous effect on your stress levels. Here are a few suggestions:
- Take walks at lunch or after dinner, and even include the kids and hubby
- Hit the gym! Getting your sweat on will help counteract the harmful effects of stress
- Add yoga or meditation to your daily activities (even 5 minutes or a few stretches will help)
- Keep a gratitude journal. Studies show that being grateful reduces anxiety and stress
- Get a massage (enough said!)
- Ask for help! Your family might think you have it all handled and don’t want their help. Ask!
- Eat your veggies! New research shows that the happiest people eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day
So, hey, Supermom (yeah, you!), even if you can do it all, it doesn’t mean you have to!