Working mothers face numerous challenges in balancing their lives and careers. The conflict between the ‘desire to work’ and the responsibilities of family management’ irritates them. There is always a conflict between what she desires and what she must do. It is said that working women have two working shifts: office work, which is a full-time paid job, and responsibilities for children and the home. A true superwoman juggles a successful career with motherhood.
Stress, inadequate sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged sitting, workload, and unhealthy eating habits contribute to significant illness in working mothers. On top of that, persistent ignorance and procrastination of self-care and health exacerbate the situation. In a majority of cases, working mothers are more prone to anxiety, depression, heart disease, obesity, insomnia, asthma, arthritis, psychological disturbances, high blood pressure, thyroid, body soreness, and fatigue. According to a study, 75% of working women have one or maybe more health issues.
Mental Illness- Stress and Anxiety
Working moms are subject to “the maternal bias,” which is the conscious or unconscious perception that a working mother cannot be effective in both profession and motherhood. According to a McKinsey study, women report higher weariness and burnout than males.
Unmanaged chronic job stress can induce mental and physical disturbances such as exhaustion, cynicism, lack of motivation, headaches, chest tightness, stomach pains, nausea, hair loss, and even excessive sobbing.
Thyroid and Backache
Working mothers are unquestionably breaking the glass ceiling at work. However, they eventually end up hurting their physical health in the process. Sitting fixed to their chairs in front of a computer for long periods hinders mobility and causes several difficulties. On the other hand, they also do not find time to recuperate at home. This can cause hormonal imbalances leading to other diseases. For instance, hypothyroidism is common in women in light of the hormonal fluctuations that occur in the body during and after pregnancy. It causes weight gain and menstruation abnormalities by slowing metabolism. In addition, chronic constipation, also known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is frequent, and so is dehydration.
Weight Gain and Nutritional Deficiency
Working moms are unable to find time for themselves and have bad dietary habits, culminating in weight gain. Inactivity caused by extended sitting can result in fat accumulation, fatty liver, and hypertension. Their nutrition frequently bears the brunt of her bad eating habits, such as an unpredictable eating schedule, poor meal choices, or missing meals entirely. They are only left with short meals, junk, and unhealthy foods devoiding of nutrition and vitamins. Due to time constraints, quick dinners might be calorie-dense yet nutritionally insufficient. This results in an iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D deficits. As a result, the majority of working moms have one or more dietary or vitamin deficits.
