Trying to ‘have it all’

Currently I am the prime example of someone trying to ‘have it all’. I run my own business so I can be there for school runs, I work almost every child free moment of my day, whilst trying to give three under 8 year olds my undivided attention for the rest. I spend weekends running between swimming, gymnastics, dance and rugby, I help in school, I’m trying to carve out a career from my science education website, I’m doing a second degree with the Open University, I help in school, I’m on the PTA…I LOVE all the above and wouldn’t give any of them up, but life is stressful. There is no real home/work life balance as my work is at home. There is never an end to my work, there is always more than can be done. Juggling family life with a fledgling small business is tough.

This year I will be 36, the age research from Kalms has shown is the most stressful age for women as work and home life becomes equally stressful. I definitely fit this criteria. My youngest child started school last September, I chose not to sit back and relax, but instead threw myself wholeheartedly into Science Sparks and my freelance work. I’m just cannot sit still in the day time, I need to be doing something….

What do you think? Was 36 the tipping point for you? Can you imagine it will be?

The research from Kalms also shows that one in five Brit’s feel stressed more then six times a week with women more likely to feel stressed than men. Is that the situation in your house? My husband is the main earner, his job is undoubtedly more important than mine, which means I end up doing my own job and 90% of day to day household tasks as well as keeping up with the seemingly endless birthday parties and school events. That is the right way for things to be as I’m not the one working full time, but managing fifty ( and I am not exaggerating ) different things every week is very stressful. I frequently go to bed late and wake up at 5am thinking about what needs to get done that day. Last year I had an almost eternal headache.

Kalms found that fitting everything into the working day is more challenging for women than men, again in our house, this is true, even if most of it is down to the self imposed pressures I put on myself.

Sophia Davis, Life coach

“In my experience, once a woman hits her mid 30’s, she has formed an idea about who she is, has created her own expectations of what she should be ‘doing’ or ‘achieving’ at that ‘stage in her life’, and will be making comparisons with the people around her, creating a self-imposed pressure, and potential anxiety if she is not in the same or similar place.”

On a postitive note Kalms have found that women are much more proactive when it comes to stress relief, with nearly 25% of men admitting to doing nothing to relieve stressful periods compared to 16% of women. Common stress relievers were found to be relaxing baths, support from family and friends and herbal products.

I don’t actually do anything to relieve my own stress levels, but after writing this I’m thinking I should!

How do you relieve stress?

Kalms Day is a traditional herbal remedy used for the temporary relief of stress symptoms such s mild anxiety, based on traditional use only. Kalms Day is available in most leading supermarkets and chemists.

RRP: £4.49

This is an advertorial post