Over the past decade, women have made important gains at every level of the corporate ladder. Research from the World Economic Forum shows that the number of women in executive-level roles increased from 17% in 2015 to 28% in 2023, and there are now more women in vice president and senior vice president roles than ever before.^[1]

However, these strides toward gender equality have come at a cost. Many women are navigating the dual pressures of career advancement and family responsibilities, creating an unrelenting overlap between work and home that often leads to emotional exhaustion and burnout. Joining the workplace has led to an overload of duties as they juggle work and family responsibilities concomitantly.

Deloitte’s 2024 Women@Work survey of over 5,000 women across 10 countries reveals rising workplace stress, with many feeling unsupported by employers in balancing work and home commitments. Women who work from an office rather than remotely are most affected, reporting a decline in their mental health and productivity.^[2]

Women and the work-life imbalance

A 2022 study found that women’s career opportunities were more negatively linked to work-life balance and general health perceptions than men’s. Work-life balance also had a stronger impact on women’s overall well-being compared to men.^[3] Some research suggests that women spend an average of 4.5 hours a day on care duties in the home, while men spend 1 hour and 23 minutes.^[4]

A recent UK survey found that nine out of 10 women experience mental health issues as a result of poor work-life balance. This led to stress, anxiety or burnout for at least 43% while more than half said they frequently felt overwhelmed by their workload.^[5] The imbalance between work and home life can lead to chronic stress, poor sleep, and neglect of both physical and mental health needs.

These findings underscore the critical need to address how career demands intersect with personal life responsibilities. Competing demands for attention can contribute to feelings of emotional exhaustion, which is sometimes referred to as ‘burnout’.

What is burnout?

Burnout is typically described as the mental and physical exhaustion resulting from long-term stress or demand on personal energy and resources.^[6] This can contribute to feelings of worry, disrupted sleep patterns, low mood, muscle aches, and other health concerns. In the workplace, burnout can affect satisfaction and productivity, potentially leading to higher rates of absenteeism and turnover.^[7]

The stress of balancing professional and family roles appears to be the key driver of mental health struggles in women. These challenges can be exacerbated by poor coping strategies such as emotional eating and overusing stimulants or drugs.^[8]

Risk of burnout also appears to vary by age. Although lowest around 20, it increases through the early 30s, when work and family responsibilities peak. Between 35 and 55, burnout risk tends to decline as work experience grows and family demands lighten. However, after 55, mental health risks may rise again due to ageing, hormonal changes (such as menopause) and additional caregiving duties, such as supporting elderly relatives.^[9]

How women can maintain mental wellness

• Set your priorities
  Make a list of the things that boost your energy and restore your sense of well-being. Then identify the things that drain your energy and get in the way of your goals. Aim to focus on what lifts you up and supports your health while minimising less positive influences where possible.
• Develop healthy boundaries
  Boundaries help to protect personal space, time, and energy, which is critical for well-being and productivity. Communicate these boundaries to both colleagues and family members, and make it clear that they are to be respected.
• Establish responsibilities
  Depending on ages, everyone in the household should have a set of tasks to complete each day. Children are to do their homework, partners are to help out with chores. Ensure everyone knows their assignment and when it should be completed.
• Nourish the body and mind
  Stress and inadequate dietary intake can lead to deficiencies of specific nutrients, which can be detrimental to the nervous system. Some research suggests that nutrients such as EPA, DHA, magnesium, Vitamin E and folate may support healthy brain function and mental well-being.^[10] Consider speaking with a healthcare provider about how you can maintain balanced nutrition through diet or supplements.
• Seek help when you need it
  Mental health is critical to overall health and well-being, and consider seeking support from a professional who can help with the challenges of balancing work with home life. Whether it’s childcare, household chores, or just someone to talk to, there are people within the community who can help.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for health professional advice.

^[1] https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/10/gender-gap-women-work-flexibility-promotion/

^[2] https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/work/content/women-at-work-global-outlook.html

^[3] https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/357

^[4] https://teamstage.io/women-in-the-workforce-statistics/

^[5] https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1861218/nine-10-women-experience-mental-ill-health-poor-work-life-balance-study-shows

^[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8375289/

^[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22445702/

^[8] https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6525

^[9] https://academic.oup.com/occmed/article/68/6/405/5038477?login=false

^[10] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7982519