Playing superhero wearing you out? Time to reflect and recharge.

I just met this old classmate recently. She is a capable working mom who juggles everything – lady boss, mummy duties, cooks and bakes, and takes care of her parents and in-laws… Aiyah, she is a superwoman lah.

But hor, she actually looked tired. And she had lost that sparkle in her eyes and the dimpled smile that had so many boys going crazy for her back then.

Does she sound like someone you know? Well, I suspect she is suffering from “Superwoman Syndrome”. Means everything also must do and must do so perfectly (you know, like Charlotte from Sex in the City – by the way, can’t wait for the reboot!). But let’s be honest, sisters, trying to handle everything is super tiring.

If you are secretly saying “Me too!”, here’s a quick check – do you:

• Feel the need to do everything always because it is faster and easier
• Feel tired even after sleeping for 8 hours (if you are lucky)
• Feel stressed even before your day starts
• Feel annoyed and irritated even with your children and loved ones
• Feel like crying sometimes but still act tough

Well, if you answered “That’s me!” to some of them, you are not alone. Even I suffer from it sometimes… And I tell you, it is not good for your health! When your brain starts to send your body such negative signals, you start to experience problems in your sleep diet, and your energy. You age faster too!

Let me share some simple can-do tips which I use for myself (yes, I need them too cos I got so many people to take care of!):

1. You can do a digital detox – Being “always-on” is mentally exhausting, so set at least 2 hours a week to shut down – no WhatsApp, no emails, no Zoom meetings, not even social media. I mean, come on, our phones also need charging, right? So do you! To make sure your battery doesn’t go flat.

2. You can indulge in something you love, used to do or like doing, but never found the time to do it – Just spend me-time (like binge-watching Squid Game) and don’t guilt-trip yourself! Loving and taking care of yourself first makes you feel better equipped to love and take care of others.

3. You can say no – Sorry to burst your bubble, babe, but you’re not the only one who can fix everything. And sometimes, it really isn’t your problem. Learn to say no. It helps you and helps others too, because they’ll also learn to figure it out themselves.

4. You can let someone else do it – Not everything you do has equal value, really. Learn to be really strict with what you want to spend time on. And what you can ask others to help you do. It may actually improve your relationships, because you have more time and others feel that you trust them.

5. You can be lousy at something and admit it – That metal armour you’re wearing? Chinks in it make for a more stylish look, trust me. You don’t need to be good at everything and admitting it is really liberating, because you don’t have to try so hard afterwards. Who knows, it might even win you more fans.

Now, some of you might think “easy to say, hard to do”. Yes, it is true because you are your biggest enemy. If you don’t want to do anything about it, of course nothing will change. But because you can do anything you put your mind to, try it. At least one tip lah. Who knows, you might like it.