Today, lots of women are trying to juggle motherhood with their careers. This isn’t an easy balancing act. Perhaps you love your job. While you were on maternity leave, you were actually looking forward to going back to work eventually. But now, the reality of being a working parent has set in. You’re having trouble keeping up with all of your responsibilities.
Or maybe you were uncertain about returning to work. However, your household needed the additional income. Now, you’re grateful for the financial stability. Yet you might feel like it’s coming at the expense of your mental health.
Many working mothers suffer from depression. Managing both of these roles is challenging. It can take a toll on your emotional well-being. If you suspect that you’re struggling from depression, here’s how to cope and come up with a better arrangement that works for your family.
Talk to Your Partner and Broader Support System
First, it’s important to tell your partner how you’re feeling, as well as your wider support system. Reaching out to your close loved ones, such as your immediate and extended family, is crucial, especially if you’re a single parent or you’re in a co-parenting arrangement.
You may be taking on a disproportionate amount of domestic labor in combination with your professional obligations. By working with your entire support system to better delegate responsibilities, you can free up some of your time.
Seek Flexibility at Work
With more and more people working remotely or in hybrid roles, you may have the opportunity to set up a more flexible work schedule, depending on your industry and specific role. If you feel comfortable setting up a meeting with your supervisor, you may want to request permission to work remotely, telecommute on certain days, or work a different schedule than typical 9-to-5 hours.
If this isn’t a possibility at your current workplace, it might be time to start applying for jobs that offer more flexibility and have better policies to support working parents.
Lean on Your Friends
Chances are, many of your friends who have children have felt the same way that you do now. Talking about your feelings and being vulnerable with your friends can make it feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of your shoulders. They might be able to help you make some realistic lifestyle changes that improve your situation.
Prioritize Your Wellbeing
As a working mother, you might feel pressure to “do it all” perfectly. But asking for help is necessary and if you have the room in your budget, you may want to outsource some household tasks.
For example, if a grocery store in your area offers affordable delivery services, you could try this option rather than driving to the store and shopping in person. Sit down with your partner to go over your budget, and then consider which tasks you could hand over to someone else.
Consider Working with a Therapist
What if you feel like you’ve exhausted all of your options for improving your daily schedule? Yet you still feel the weight of depression. You don’t have to continue suffering on your own. Instead, it may be time to reach out to a therapist.
It’s a good idea to seek out a counselor who has experience supporting working mothers. If you don’t have much time to go to therapy, look for a therapist who offers virtual sessions that you can fit in around your schedule.
—
Are you struggling to balance motherhood and work? Talking to someone can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for women’s counseling.