Handling Summertime Stress,
Tips For Career Women
Summer is usually a time of relaxation for children and families, but for many career women, a vacation is a luxury that is simply not affordable or possible. Between managing high-level positions and attempting to solidify the family unit, many women grapple with unique and stressful summers.
“Every woman must be certain to maintain her health and wellness, even though we are ‘expected’ to rise to every occasion, and often without help” says Doctor Renee Parks, a Feng Shui and Holistic Health Practitioner in Baltimore.”I am very conscious of my mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing during this time of year - because women can be prone to exhaustion. The days may be longer, but we must realize that our mission is not to wear ourselves thin – but to rejuvenate and pamper ourselves whenever we can. We must also support a culture of simplicity within our homes and ourselves, this is what I assist my clients in accomplishing” she says.
BEING THE SUPERMOM
Just because the summertime allows the children a vacation from school, many women are still bound to the “pick-up”, “drop-off”, activities and childcare routines that are the necessary evils of ’mom-hood’. Doctor Renee suggests that working moms seek neighborhood carpools and more localized and inexpensive group activities for children. “I know moms who drive 50 miles roundtrip to take their children to dance class. How does your pocketbook respond? How does the strain from burnout and exhaustion reflect in the interactions with your children?.”
Align with 2-3 moms in the area that you know personally or by referral from a good friend, and work with them in order to create weekly group outings for your children to cultural arts events in the area!. Find out if a group “childcare carpool” can be arranged if your children are very small. Research a list of state points of interest while you are at work, and free cultural centers that children would enjoy. These could be more fun for the kids than the regular ‘pizza and a Redbox DVD’ routine. You will not only save time, energy, and money, but you will enrich and expand the minds of your children for years to come.
DEALING WITH THE HEATWAVE
Heat and humidity are what summer is all about. However, these two things are something that pre or post menopausal career women cannot stand for very long. Doctor Renee suggests that clothing, diet and alternative uses in cosmetics may alleviate your body’s response to heat and humidity. “Firstly, the skin must be as clear as possible, unless you are attending or hosting an elegant function, where makeup may be needed. Your understanding of the foods you eat also will correspond to the way that your body will feel and respond in heat, and all the running all around. I tend to lean to a lighter palette of neutral colors that are not absorbent.”
Lip gloss and possibly a bit of waterproof mascara are what Diva Renee suggests for daytime, so that women will have the opportunity (and pleasure) to splash the face with fresh water several times during the day. This will also support clean and healthy skin – beautiful for any season. Hair that is pinned back from the face will make you feel cooler, and accentuate the grace of your neck and shoulders. Less hairspray, but more natural and light oils may also be beneficial in terms of hair. Choose a cute, sophisticated, or vintage set of hair pins to aide in the creation of a new ”updo” for summer.
In terms of clothing, go for lighter and more neutral colors, with delicate fabrics that do not absorb moisture too visibly. Avoid.silk, silk-blends, iridescents, or heavy fabrics. “If you choose a gypsy skirt, be certain to match it with a more form-fitting top, to give the body shape. Don’t go for ‘baggy’ all over, this is not good Feng Shui, nor acceptable in terms of fashion.”
Food is a ‘hot topic’ in terms of staying cool, because the body uses different amounts of energy to digest each type. “The proverbial light lunch can be satisfying, with a good balance. Stay away from carbs and starches, unless you want to be sleepy by 3pm. Vending machines offer poor choices – they are mostly incredibly salty or incredibly full of carbs.”, Doctor Renee advises. ”Spicy foods (with cayenne) are only good for morning, but in the afternoon you risk ‘heatflashes’, and at night you risk acid reflux. Cayenne also causes the body to produce heat internally. I would caution a career woman in selecting these for her ‘at work’ meal.”
ON THE HOMEFRONT
Central air conditioning may cool the home, but clutter and disorder will certainly bring your blood-pressure to a boiling point! Many career women are overwhelmed, and lose sight of the conditions of their homes during the summer. While this is happening, usually the home is full of ‘little people’ who are full of energy. If you have youths or teenagers home alone during the summer, you certainly have help – but you must learn to negotiate and set guidelines for their ’coveted assistance’ in getting your home back!
“Call a family emergency meeting where you lay out the plan,” says Doctor Renee. “Each day, there should be one to three chores or goals for each child to accomplish. The ”chore / goal list” should also be detailed and recorded each day by the child on a checklist in the kitchen or family area. Its amazing how we are held so accountable on our jobs, but we do not hold our children accountable for the conditions of our homes, especially when they are the ones who live there for free.” she says.
Dishes, garbage, laundry, folding, pets, and the cleaning of their rooms and common spaces are all things that children can complete easily in about one hour a day. When arriving home, call the children together so that you may inspect each area and praise them for their good work. One way to admonish ‘the rebel’ of the family would be to REMOVE priviledges or activities for them until their chores are completed for 3 days straight. The ”chore / goal list” will help you to remember what was completed on a certain day. It will also prevent the “favoritism” claim that many children use when it comes to their soft-hearted parents.
