Christine Anastasia reached out to me on LinkedIn a few months ago to do an online coffee chat. We hit it off. And I’ve enjoyed her Instagram account as well!I asked her to write about something related to working motherhood and shared the upcoming themes. She wanted to write about a different approach to taking time off that could help prevent burnout as a working mom. I really appreciate the idea of a sustainable work-life this summer and beyond that can help with mental health.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. After two years of feeling stressed and uncertain, it’s a perfect moment to focus energy on how to prevent burnout as a working mom. Instead of only living for a week of summer vacation, create a more sustainable work-life this summer (and beyond). Consider a different approach to taking time off to help prevent burnout as a working mom.
A shift in your needs and thinking
I worked with a client that shared with me that it was more stressful for her to be out of the office for one or two weeks because of the amount of work she would come back to. She needed a different approach to taking time off. Instead of the usual week away, we discussed a sprinkling of days throughout summer. That shift made all the difference for her. Sometimes our brains are wired in traditional ways that may no longer serve our needs.
For example, taking that vacation on Cape Cod for a week or the Outer Banks may not fit your needs or even fill your cup anymore. If we know anything about our lives now, they certainly aren’t how they were pre-covid. Maybe taking three-day weekends throughout the summer is better for you, your role, and your workflow. Use a different approach to taking time off this summer to kick off habits that enable a more sustainable lifestyle all year.
Building in well-being and rest throughout the year has been one of my best ways to prevent burnout as a working mom. I no longer feel I have to escape the work and life I was in. This does take some thought and creativity, though. (With this in mind, it’s no surprise that many countries are looking at the 4-day work week to help with employee wellbeing.)
Enjoy time with family all summer
Some summers ago, I remember plotting time off for my wedding and honeymoon and then also taking several Fridays off throughout the summer. At the time it felt like a ton of time off but what I learned is that it actually gave me the pause to feel rested, relaxed, and enjoy the whole summer.
I’ve come up with 3 TIPS to help you consider a different approach to taking time off this summer.
- PLOT VACATION EARLY. Just like you plan your kids’ camps, plot your vacation and time off early. This could be for your family or even some days planned for you, solo. (Yes, days off only for YOU!)
- CONSIDER DAYS OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Consider taking off one day a week for long weekends or scattered in a month generously (if you can). This can really help you to set yourself up for ensuring you’re taking care of yourself regularly throughout the year. In order for this to work, it has to be normalized. As a working mom, this can also help you prevent burnout. Remember to plan your work time accordingly so you’re not frantically catching up each time you take a long weekend.
- SCHEDULE CONSISTENT PTO. Summer is a fun time. The weather is pleasant and there are so many activities to take advantage of. Make time throughout your summer for PTO. And get the time on your calendar now. Take a sprinkling of days or several long weekends instead. Maybe that looks like every 2 weeks or each weekend for a month. Each working mom knows what works best for her.
Don’t let your full life lead to burnout
We’ve heard so much about the long-term burnout employees face. Our nervous systems are often in overdrive. If this happens long-term, you can reach a point of burnout.
Working moms especially are feeling this burnout. It’s no wonder with the full lives that we live and the few years we’ve had during the pandemic. The sheer amount of hours that are expected of employees can be overwhelming, especially when you add to this the second shift that working moms often manage with little support.
The idea is to prevent burnout as a working mom so you don’t have to deal with coming back from this feeling. It’s not as simple as adding in self-care or making a mental shift to stop feeling burned out once you reach this point.
Sustainable work culture
There’s a huge opportunity to build more sustainable work cultures and practices to support employees at every step of their journey. Well-being and empowering employees to take vacation are a great start. The bigger picture is to create sustainable practices to prevent burnout in the daily lives of your employees.
Building in sustainable moments to rest helps employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Empower employees to normalize well-being as a way to help with their daily flow at work, whether in-person or when working remotely. Downtime and self-care can’t be singular events. Being productive and creative also calls for downtime and space to rest. (You can get more ideas on how to support working mothers’ mental health as an employer).
As we head into the summer months, what kinds of time off are you considering? What will help you recharge? Will a different approach to taking time off help you prevent burnout? As a manager or an employer, how are you helping your team prevent burnout?
Christine Anastasia is a Master Certified Life Coach and mother of three (including a newborn!). Her coaching services and group programs help new moms and busy moms be at their best as they juggle work and raising a young family. Christine helps moms take care of their well-being, so they can thrive in motherhood. Follow Christine on Instagram or Facebook. You’ll learn about Christine’s 1:1 coaching and packages and get access to great tips that she regularly shares!
