How to find yourself again after becoming a caregiver

We live in a society where we are constantly patted on the back for handling ten tasks, five responsibilities, grinding, hustling, working, raising a family, raising children, taking care of our spouses, being good community members, and volunteering hours in the PTA.

But what most people don’t see is that all of this often comes at a cost.

Initially, it may feel okay—even empowering—to wear the fancy title of Superwoman aka caregiver. But that title can burn you out at a very fast rate. Societal expectations are creating more pressure for women. Even when we are tired, many of us feel like we can’t say it out loud because it makes us look weak, lazy, or not “up to par” with everyone else.

Juggling many responsibilities comes with being a mother, but the real question is: how many responsibilities and tasks can one person take on before it starts to take a toll mentally—and eventually manifests physically? As we know, the mind and body are deeply interconnected.

How do we find our lost identity, there’s more to us than simply a being a caregiver. For the past year, I have intentionally done the opposite. Even though I am capable of taking on many important responsibilities, I learned to slow down, listen to my body, and prioritize. I started asking myself one simple question: Do I need to do this today?

Being conscious of the responsibilities and tasks I take on has significantly improved my mental health. My advice to all women, especially as a certified life coach, is this: learn to slow down. Learn to recognize what your body is telling you. Learn to prioritize your health and mental well-being.

Your body may already be showing signs of burnout, yet we often choose to ignore them. But believe me, this won’t help you in the long run. Being Superwoman may have once seemed cute, but it’s no longer cute if women are paying the price mentally and physically. Let’s find our long lost identity and remind ourselves we can be a caregiver and have other titles also - lawyer, entrepreneur, sister, church member, PTA mom, volunteer, wife and daughter.