Wearing Multiple Hats: Strategies To Manage Multiple Roles That Women Play

Being a woman isn’t easy. Most of the time, it requires you to be superhuman and juggle multiple roles, responsibilities, and demands that may be at odds with each other. Each day brings with it a different set of challenges and choices that need to be made to harmonise the different areas of life, and all this can be exhausting!

The demands can be overwhelming, whether you’re a professional, a caregiver, a partner, or a friend. What adds more fuel to the fire is that many women try to chase perfection in every role that they play, refuse to ask for help or support, and, in trying to be the caregiver, end up neglecting their own mental and physical health.

Women must realise that they can’t pour from an empty cup. As quintessential nurturers (since that comes naturally to most women or they assume the responsibility of being one), they need to be there for themselves as much as they are for others around them.

Some of all this stems from our conditioning and expectations that society conveniently puts on us, and the other comes from our own inner dialogue and belief system that’s filled with “I must do everything perfectly,” “If I won’t, then who will?”, “I have to do everything all at once!” or “What will people think or say about me?” This mindset often keeps most women stuck in a cycle of anxiety, misery, frustration, helplessness, and resentment.

Most of us must understand that we can’t have it all at once! Well, these are Betty Ford’s words, not mine! But she does make sense! That’s because before belonging to any gender, we need to understand that we as human beings have limited time, energy, motivation, physical and emotional strength and willpower.
As much as we want to believe in or behave like superwomen, we are not, and we need to stop trying!

Irrespective of the roles you play or positions you hold, there are some essentials that you always need to remember to be able to navigate the demands of the multiple roles you end up playing:

1. Time Management And Prioritisation:

Many women I work with struggle with time management. They are always running late or are unable to finish tasks on time or do them properly, and that’s because they don’t know what needs to be done, when, and how! They are so busy trying to do ten things together that nothing gets done! Hence, it’s essential for you to start your day with your tasks and agendas in place. Write them down or use an app to streamline your tasks. Remember, you can’t and don’t have to do everything together.

2. Delegate:

Again, you can’t do everything alone, and there is no point in trying. It will only leave you feeling cranky, burdened, and exhausted. Hire help, delegate responsibilities, and involve others in sharing your load—at work and home. It’s okay to ask for help.

Also Read: Working Towards a Work-Life Balance

3. Stop Obsessing Over What People Will Think:

This huge barrier prevents most women from being themselves, asking for help, or even choosing not to do certain things. Those who love, care for and respect you will stand by your side, no matter what. Those who don’t aren’t worth your time and energy.

4. Prioritise Self-care:

Make sure that you are taking some time for yourself daily and weekly to unwind and relax. Hit the gym, do your yoga, join that dance class or visit the salon, play with your pet, meditate, journal, take power naps—do whatever helps you come back to your centre and keeps you stable.

5. Say No:

To people, places, and activities that drain you. You don’t have unlimited bandwidth, and you can’t do multiple things at once. Learn to conserve your mental and emotional peace by saying no to what depletes you or takes your joy away.

6. Respect Yourself:

You don’t need to constantly prove your worth, value and importance to the world by burning yourself to the ground. The more you disrespect and devalue yourself, the more you allow the world to do the same and take you for granted. Remember, you are enough, and you matter.

7. Stop Chasing Perfection:

It doesn’t exist. Focus on doing the best that you can. Be compassionate to yourself when you falter or don’t get something right. After all, you’re just a human being, and we are all fallible.

8. Focus On Personal Growth:

Many women make the mistake of giving up their goals and dreams for the sake of others. The day you stop growing as an individual is the day resentment for yourself, others, and life begins to seep in. Amidst everything you keep doing, don’t forget to focus on your growth, even if it means reading one page of a book daily, painting once a week, or learning a language. Don’t ever stop growing.

Managing your mental, emotional, and physical health while juggling multiple roles is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s not impossible. All you need to do is remember that you are the centre of your universe, and everything else revolves around you. It’s not the other way around; it never should be.