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Workaholics and burnout: single mothers

In Western culture, it’s easy to get caught up in the breakneck pace of current trends. It seems that there is not enough time to do what we set out to do. Our to-do lists are longer than our meals with our families. Sitting down to enjoy our family or take care of ourselves is becoming a thing of the past. Unless we stop, look and listen to how we really are or how we feel inside.

I am a single mother of a teenager and I know firsthand how to be a responsible workaholic. Being a single mom puts me in a position to be the super woman. I have to cook, clean, organize, pay bills, go to work, take care of my daughter, be the absent father, among other things that I am supposed to be or do for my position as a single parent.

I immersed myself in my career as an entrepreneur twelve years ago. I am in the service oriented business. My passion was meeting the needs of my clients and for twelve years I did exactly that. What I didn’t plan for was that overwork led me to burn out. I was forced to work in order to provide and live a good life for my daughter. I thought money was easier if I worked hard and was never home. I even worked two other jobs to make ends meet. What I found out is that my body can only do that for a while and then I contracted some kind of disease. That’s when depression took hold of me and it seems to be the most serious emotional illness among single parents. I wanted to be the tough mom who could “do it all” and show the world that I can do anything! well that was wrong.

Workaholic and burnout came together and I crashed. I hated my daily life, I hated going to work, and I hated what I used to love doing. Personally and professionally I thought I had. Again wrong. My focus was on meeting the needs of my clients and I neglected myself and everyone around me, including my daughter. She didn’t deserve that, but I felt like I had no choice in the matter.

We all have options and I finally took a look at what I had been doing with my life and how it affected the lives of those around me. Yes, I would have done things differently, but I think it was time to learn that overwork and exhaustion became a blessing. Why was it a sign of blessing? Well, once I realized that I was a super-doer, I took that break I needed and realized that I am a better person for having been through everything I did. I want to help others who work too hard and I want them to get the help they need before they feel guilty or regret some of the things I did. My motto: “Live without regrets”.

My advice to avoid burnout is to read the articles now before it happens. Look for the written signs. If you have lost the will to live and are negative every day, seek help. Depression has started or you need help with your depressed thoughts. When you are depressed it affects others even if you don’t think it will. My only wish is whether you are a single parent or not, overwork and burnout often go hand in hand, please don’t wait until it’s too late to get help. you need. Stop, look and listen to your true inner self. Above all, remember that there is a higher power that cares enough for you that “this too will pass.”

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