Stress Management
The importance of support mechanisms for working mothers in times of pandemic
As a result of the pandemic, homes have become the space where everything happens: care, education of children, socialization and work. This workload falls mainly on women who report symptoms of depression, anxiety and decreased self-esteem.
Did you know that the incorporation of women into the labor market has had repercussions not only on family and work functioning but also on health and well-being conditions?
Women who work outside the home also have the responsibility of managing, administering and executing household chores, as well as taking care of their children, which doubles their working hours. As a result of the pandemic, homes have become the space where everything happens: care, education of children, socialization and work. This workload falls mainly on women who do not value themselves socially or economically and who, as a result of confinement, have largely lost their support networks. Before the pandemic, it was estimated that women with children needed almost 4 additional hours each day to carry out all their activities; During the pandemic, this need has doubled.
According to the OECD, Mexico ranks first among the countries with the longest working hours (followed by Costa Rica and South Korea) and, according to a study by Grant Thornton's International Business Report (IBR), it ranks second place of the countries with the highest level of stress in general (including work). Many working women with children report symptoms of depression, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem. If they also have bad habits or a poor diet, they can present other symptoms related to stress such as being overweight, reduced life expectancy, sleep and mood disorders, low productivity, aggressiveness, cardiovascular problems -such as hypertension- and reduced energy level.
The world has changed and today it is important to have support mechanisms for women who participate in the labor market and who have children. Companies that invest in the health and well-being of their employees, especially working mothers, pay off these investments in an increase in productivity and staff commitment (being addicted to work is not the same as commitment), as a result of modifying the diet and lifestyle, incorporating mechanisms to reduce stress levels and the use of specific tools for efficient time management.