Ever found yourself caught in the whirlwind of parenthood, student life, and the demands of work? Balancing these three roles can feel like a juggling act, however, you can make it work by beating burnout and living life to the fullest.
Balancing school, work, and family life can be a balancing act, but you can avoid the burnout blues with some simple tips.
First, set realistic expectations and take time for yourself, whether it’s a walk in the park or a long, hot bath. And remember to laugh – laughter is the best medicine!
Recognise when you’re drowning
Managing multiple responsibilities at once can be a real challenge, says Nolubabalo Rani, a teacher in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. She shares some insights on how to balance it all, from her own experience.
Rani emphasises self-discipline and time management, as well as making time for self-care. Without these, even the best intentions can fall apart. It’s not easy, but the rewards are worth the effort, she adds.
“There’ll be times when you feel like it’s not worth all the effort that you’re putting in because everything is falling apart.”
Rani believes in self-improvement, and she recognises that it can be a difficult and sometimes frustrating process. For some people, nothing comes easy, but the result is worth all the hard work and setbacks.
She adds that in between juggling work, she listens to her body to know when it’s calling out for a rest.
“When I feel burnout I step back, check out, pause and take time to regroup and recharge.”
Nolubabalo Rani
Multitasking is doable
Harsha Jovuka from Cape Town knows firsthand the challenges of time management and self-discipline. As a single mother, she understands how parenting, schoolwork, and other daily tasks can take up a lot of time and energy.
She’s learned that having a positive and resilient mindset is key to overcoming these challenges. And having a support system of friends and family who understand her daily struggles, has made a big difference in her ability to juggle it all.
“I have a detailed daily timetable to assist me, even though it’s not that easy to stick to its daily schedule as I’m supposed to.”
Harsha Jovuka
Jovuka has found that the small things in life can bring great joy, even while parenting and schoolwork. She’s learned to appreciate the simple pleasures, like finishing an assignment or spending time with her child.
These moments of happiness, she says, help her to stay motivated. Over time, she’s become a master of multitasking and has developed a strong sense of self-motivation. She credits this to her ability to set goals and stick to them, even when the going gets tough.
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How can you prevent burnout?
Sandile Radebe, an educational psychologist from KwaZulu-Natal says when it comes to juggling multiple responsibilities, stress and anxiety, it’s all about pacing yourself. Taking breaks, even short ones, can help you stay focused and productive.
He also recommends incorporating breathing exercises into your routine to help you stay calm and centred. Radebe believes that these simple steps can help anyone manage the demands of parenting, schoolwork, and other commitments.
“Sometimes the pressure comes from having to accommodate all these roles at the same time, and that’s where the problems begin.”
Educational psychologist Sandile Radebe
Radebe believes that many people don’t take the time to listen to their bodies and minds. They become so focused on the demands of work and family that they forget to check in with themselves and assess their needs.
Stop the stress and relax
He suggests dedicating your time and energy to one specific thing at a time. Rather than dividing your attention and trying to do everything at once, he recommends doing one thing and doing it well.
Whether you’re at work, at home, or doing schoolwork, give it your full attention. It may take some practice, but the benefits of being fully present and engaged now can help improve your mental health and productivity, she adds.
Radebe recommends regular deep breathing and somatic exercises as a way to manage stress and stay focused. Somatic exercises, he explains, are a type of therapy modality that uses the body to heal the mind.
By slowing down and focusing on the breath, you can give your brain a break and allow it to relax. “For example; a person who breathes in and out slowly but then as they are breathing in and out, they are being mindful of their body.”
He suggests noticing the sensation of breathing in fresh air, paying attention to how the cool air enters the lungs and fills the body with life.
“All those things make you feel aware of your body. They make you pay attention to where it is hurting.”
Sandile Radebe
By being mindful that these are the senses that you’re feeling. It frees your mind from all tensions and negative thoughts, allowing you to focus on the now, he adds.
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