Why women have a higher risk of burnout

Women are at risk of burnout more than ever before, due to the pandemic it has changed the way that we live our lives and even though the pandemic has begun to fade, some of our lifestyles have stayed the same throughout.

The risk of burnout for women is increased by several factors, including societal structures and gender norms. For example, during the pandemic, women were shouldering three times more unpaid childcare responsibilities than men.

University College London completed an independent study that showed that Women who live with men continue to do most of the housework, women are five times more likely to spend around 20 hours a week on chores compared to men.

Women are also more likely to take an unequal share of the ‘invisible’ work in managing a household, for example, planning doctor appointments, school projects, shopping lists, and organising birthday gifts.

Although not all but for many women, it is their job to continually manage what goes on in their household. It can be an exhausting mentally, compared to being physically exhausted from doing practical tasks. Often, the jobs that women take on in their household can be taken for granted and not acknowledged.

On top of household burdens, burnout can also be caused by a range of other things, including:

• Money issues
• Work
• Sleep
• Relationships
• Physical health
• Job worries
• Caring for others

Notice the Signs!

It is important to notice the signs of burnout to ensure that you take time to yourself and get back to normal. It can also encourage you to take time to yourself more often, although many women don't have the time, it is important to find the time to avoid burnout. Or it can allow you to improve the things that cause burnout and make them more sustainable if possible.

Here are the common signs of burnout:

• Feeling tired most of the time
• Feeling defeated, helpless, or trapped
• Self-doubt
• Procrastinating
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling alone
• Having a negative outlook

Burnout can increase the risk of mental health issues such as depression, make sure you seek help and consult a doctor if you are feeling depressed.