5 Ways to Avoid the Superwoman Complex

Hey there superwoman! Have you ever felt like you had to do everything and be everywhere all at the same time? Has the feeling of exhaustion ever hovered over you at the end of the day, with still so much left to do? Yes? It has? Well, awesome, I was actually an expert “Burnt Out Superwoman”, and wanted to give you a few tips to burn your capes like I did.

1. Be honest with yourself. Have a real conversation with yourself about what it will take for you to feel good at the end of each day. It’s important that we feel good about the work we do in our homes, offices, and our community. If we prioritize our task effectively, we can have small wins each day and feel more accomplished.

2. Prioritize. There are more than a million things that always need to be done, I understand. You must prioritize, each and every task. Obviously your family must eat some sort of meal each night (I’d say dinner but breakfast ends up on our evening plates more often than not around here), but does your living room and children’s rooms have to be spotless each evening as well? Figure out which tasks are most important to your family, and focus on completing them in that order. If you find that your priorities aren’t working well for your family, feel free to readjust.

3. Schedule EVERYTHING. I’m too embarrassed to honestly say the amount of times I stayed late at work and caused my daughter to be late to her Wednesday evening dance class. Every Sunday, take a few minutes and write out your week. List all of your appointments, children’s activities, deadlines for work, and don’t forget to schedule time for your own self-care.

4. Self Care. We are usually the most neglected people in our own lives, forgetting that we need care as well. If I had a dollar for each time I packed a lunch for my husband and daughter only to throw random snacks into a Wal-Mart bag for myself, I’d be able to quit my job! There’s nothing wrong with taking pride in doing for our families, that’s something we all should. However, finding at least 10-30 minutes a day to solely focus on us can be life changing. Sometimes I’ll stay at the office during lunch to close my door for some peace and quiet. Other times I’ll wake up very early in the morning so that I can hear my own thoughts and get mentally ready for the day. Self-care can be as simple as painting your nails, reading a book, or watching your favorite show. The most important part of self-care is remembering to do it, take care of yourself, you deserve it.

5. Allow room for mistakes. Listen, I know you want to the best mom, the best wife, the best manager, CEO, teacher, etc. I get it, because I strive to be the best as well. My need for perfection often has betrayed me, causing me to avoid things all together until they’re “just right”. We will never be perfect, I’m sorry, but it’s the truth, hopefully that sends a little encouragement your way so that you can breathe a little. The only thing you can do is plan and put your best foot forward each and every day. Realizing that superwoman isn’t something we should be striving for can take some time to adjust to. If you find yourself feeling exhausted after all of these tips, that’s okay, just look at your plan and figure out where you need to make adjustments.


Mese Edwards is an Author and United States Army veteran with nine years of service and has served three deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She is a wife, and mother of two, residing in Wichita, KS. Mese spends her free time enjoying her family, writing, and preparing new books for book lovers everywhere.

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