Women's Month | Employee Wellness

She doesn’t need a cape to be called the HERO!

Throughout history, the role of women in society has evolved significantly. From being restricted to domestic duties to becoming key contributors in the workforce. The idea of engaging in multiple roles simultaneously, or “doing it all”, has become a valued social norm and these practices, according to a study by Monika K. Sumra, inevitably cause women to stress. For most women stress ranks at the top of the list of daily problems often resulting in lack of sleep, irregular periods, depression or anxiety.

Social and economic factors can put women at greater risk of poor mental health than men. However, women generally find it easier to talk about their feelings and have stronger social networks, both of which can help protect their mental health.

In today’s world, we are overwhelmed with the pressure to achieve and women often feel the need to be everything to everyone, often neglecting their well-being. If that’s the case, take the month of August to reset your mindset and prioritise your mental well-being, as one cannot pour from an empty cup.In today’s world, we are overwhelmed with the pressure to achieve and women often feel the need to be everything to everyone, often neglecting their wellbeing. If that’s the case, take the month of August to reset your mindset and prioritise your mental wellbeing, as one cannot pour from an empty cup.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

Self-care should not be seen as selfish or reserved for people who have time and money to spare and one of the ways in which you can do this is to prioritise getting better sleep.

Lack of sleep can not only have a serious impact on one’s physical health, but lack of sleep leads to detriments in job performance, productivity, career progression and satisfaction and an increase in job-related accidents, absenteeism and counterproductive work behaviours. Which creates a cycle of stress that woman can often find difficult to get out of.

Tips for getting more deep sleep

The best way to get more deep sleep is to get enough total hours of sleep. Most deep sleep happens in the first hour or two of sleep. Therefore, cutting out things that might make it difficult to get sleep can help in getting a good night’s rest. Other tips on how to get deep sleep for your well-being include:

Another factor that can impact women which is not often spoken about is the feelings of depression before and during their period. Often called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), severe feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability before and during your period could indicate something else – premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Spot the warning signs and know when to reach out for help.