Recently, I was chatting with a friend about our struggles with persistent aches and pains. We both juggle full-time jobs and young children. “You won’t believe it,” she said through her headset while driving to work, “I dealt with excruciating pain for five months just because getting to the doctor seemed like too much hassle.”
I could relate. Just last week, I finally went for my yearly checkup—the first in three years! The doctor asked if I’d had an MRI for my back. Nope. A Pap smear? Nope again. Teeth cleaning? I chuckled. Who has time for that? She handed me a stack of referrals for ultrasounds, MRIs, and mammograms, which I promptly stuffed into my bag, where they now sit untouched.
The Impact of Work and Parenting on Health
Balancing work and parenting can severely impact our health. For starters, if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly shuffling your kids to their pediatrician for everything from fevers to rashes and even the occasional stomach bug that would make a horror movie proud. Leaving work early to take your little one to the doctor makes it even trickier to find time later on for your own health concerns.
Sleep is another elusive treasure. A friend of mine had a nagging cough for months, and when I inquired about her sleep schedule, she just shrugged. As a freelancer and a single mom, her bedtime often stretches past 1 AM, leaving her exhausted. Eventually, she developed walking pneumonia because finding time to see a doctor and rest was impossible.
The Challenge of Finding Time for Exercise
And then there’s exercise. Oh, how I miss it! I actually enjoy working out, and I wish I could squeeze in just one more hour each day. I start my workday early to spend afternoons with my children, which means I hit the hay early as well. If I’m lucky, I might manage a couple of yoga sessions weekly. My friend with back pain is struggling to fit physical therapy into her schedule, while another working mom has thrown in the towel entirely: “I wake up at six with the kids and work until 11 PM—there’s just no time for exercise. The work has to be done.”
The Work-Life Balance Dilemma
Americans are working longer hours than ever—averaging 47 hours a week—while other countries manage to get by with just under 35. On top of that, we spend about 50 minutes commuting each day, and in big cities, that can mean hours stuck in traffic. Combine this with the time we dedicate to childcare, housework, and managing the basics of life—like filling out camp forms or buying school supplies—and it leaves us with little to no time to focus on our own well-being.
For mothers, the dual pressures of work and parenting can be particularly detrimental to health. According to Working Mother, “Women who report high job stress have a 40 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease than their lower-stress peers.”
That said, stay-at-home parents aren’t immune to health challenges either. During my time as a full-time mom, I also struggled to find time for exercise (who would watch the kids?) or make it to doctor appointments (same issue). The problem isn’t simply about choosing between work and staying home—it’s a broader cultural issue. We drive instead of bike to work, school drop-offs happen early, and extracurricular activities run late. Cooking from scratch is often a luxury, and fresh, nutritious food can be pricey. In today’s economy, many of us feel the pressure to log excessive hours just to keep our jobs.
Making a Commitment to Health
Every fall, I make resolutions, viewing the new school year as a fresh start. This year, I’m committing to a few minutes of yoga daily, cooking more meals from scratch, and finally scheduling that MRI, once I track down the prescription. If it means taking on less work or letting my kids watch a bit more TV, so be it. I love having it all, but I value my health even more!
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Conclusion
In summary, balancing work and parenting can significantly detract from our health. It’s essential to prioritize self-care amidst the chaos and take steps to ensure our well-being, even if it means making some sacrifices elsewhere.