Kendra Pennington’s Post

Working moms, especially SINGLE working moms, are at an increased risk of burnout, and some key symptoms include: exhaustion (feeling physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually fatigued that you believe you have nothing left to give), depersonalization (feeling unmotivated, cynical, detached, and disconnected from others), lacking a sense of accomplishment (feeling unproductive and ineffective), and poor self-care (being unable to do what's needed to preserve or improve one's own physical and emotional health). https://lnkd.in/gPwcFpny

Expert shares the 1 thing to do to combat parental burnout and loneliness

Are you juggling the "Shiftwork" Of Motherhood? I have been fortunate to have another great opportunity to work with Good to Know Magazine and Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse on the reality of being a mum in today's world. It's so important to create the time and space to care for ourselves; inevitably, something needs to give. But remember, it doesn't ALWAYS have to be you. Try to find a balance. Ask yourself ✅ What do I do to take care of my body? ✅ What do I do to take care of my mind? ✅ Do I need to re-evaluate my commitments? ✅ Can this job wait? ✅ Do I know how to say NO? ✅ Do I have good boundaries? Some people love the hustle and bustle of a busy life, while others need to take things slower. We are all different, as are our children's ever-evolving needs, so creating a balance that serves you is essential to thrive. #dontcompare #selfcare #parenting #burnout https://lnkd.in/eZ7fkEyd

Last week we all had the flu. Everyone's better but the ripple effect of juggling a career and sick children continues. Being ill at the same time as having to care for an ill toddler is up there with the hardest parts of parenting. I was speaking with a friend about the impact on working parents: - Productivity is impacted, the mental load of worry takes its toll on both quality and quantity of work. - The guilt of not being good enough as a parent or a colleague, followed by the pressure of making up for your absence. - Round the clock caring takes its toll on your own psychical and mental health, especially hard when you’re unwell or recovering. This is all compounded by the fact you’ve possibly recently returned from parental leave and feeling the need to 'prove' yourself 😬 It really emphasises the importance of: - Supportive, flexible working: when family are sick but also during the recovery period. Unnecessarily inflexible work arrangements lead to parents burning out. - Normalising these experiences: Parenting Out Loud to break the taboo around these experiences, follow Elliott Rae for more on this. - Empathy and understanding: Create the space for honest conversations about the realities of working parenthood. Small changes make a significant impact and make it possible to juggle parenting and a career without burning out. #workingparents #worklifebalance #mentalload #inclusivecultures #burnout

It’s Maternal Mental Health Week and we’ve been pondering what it means to support working parents. So we've handed over the LinkedIn keys to our very own MYNDUP mum Kathryn Cettina 👑 (also our much-loved head of enterprise & accounts). Kathryn's returned to work 3 times after maternity. She's seen the good, bad and the downright ugly. Here's her hot take on how to let your parental returners know they matter 💛 ✅ Be proactive in creating space Create regular spaces throughout the transitional period and invite their thoughts and feelings on what they need to do their jobs brilliantly. Be proactive. Be permission giving. Be human. Show your commitment to making it work for them, however that looks. ✅ Don’t fall into ‘faux flexibility’ Flexibility will look different to everyone. It’s not enough to allow them an hour off for a doctor’s appointment if they make it up at the end of the day. The way they get things done might look different to their coworkers or even other parents. There are no rules on this. The goal is to create an environment where this is okay and trust that it measures up in the end. ✅ Mind your mouth Don't underestimate the power of your words. The twist of our tummies as we hear the whispers of ‘she probably isn’t coming back’ is not lost on us. These seemingly innocent comments are what cultivate culture and parental perception. Try these alternatives: “How was your holiday? Nice break?” → “We're so glad you’re back. God we've missed your input.” “So much has changed since you were last here” → “Let’s get you up to speed!” “Who's looking after the baby?” → “How's the baby? Any pics?” (for ten points, remember the right name) Mind your mouths. Use your words for good 💛 #hrcommunity #parentalleave #inclusiveworkplace

New blog alert! This time we're thinking about the work we do with to-be and new dads but we think it'll resonate with dads at any stage of family life. Let us know your thoughts.

If you’re a mum juggling career and family, you probably feel exhausted at the end of the day. And there’s no doubt that the invisible load contributes to this fatigue. The term “invisible load”, refers to the mental and emotional burden usually falling on mothers’ shoulders. it is all the planning, scheduling, monitoring and worrying that mums do for their family. Check out my new blog “ The weight of the invisible load on mum’s shoulders” to find more about the load and how to manage it. https://lnkd.in/g-XHRzCE #workingmom #invisibleload #genderinequality

In a recent article, “Parents are feeling lonely. Here’s why it matters” by Sandee LaMotte, we uncover some eye-opening insights that hit close to home. Between juggling work, parenting duties, and trying to keep the house from turning into chaos, it's a lot, right? This piece sheds light on parental burnout and the surprising twist of loneliness that often accompanies it. According to the article, many parents are nodding along. About half of them admit to feeling lonely at least some of the time, and a third feel it often or always. It's not just about being tired; it's about feeling disconnected. Why? Factors like: 🔹 Lack of support 🔹 Weight of external societal pressures 🔹 Responsibilities of parenting play a significant role. But here's the silver lining: experts emphasize the importance of seeking support and connection. Remember, It's not just about toughing it out – it's about prioritizing self-care and reaching out when needed, whether to friends, family, or professional services. For deeper insights into this article, click the link below: https://hubs.li/Q02v2K0G0 #ParentalBurnout #Loneliness #CommunitySupport

Could you be suffering from parental burnout? 😫 More than simply feeling tired or worn out, parental burnout is associated with feelings of exhaustion, emotional distancing, and loss of fulfilment in parenting. https://lnkd.in/enMmmj7D Sound like you? Visit my website to see how I can help! ✅ #parentingtips #parentinghacks #parentinghelp #parentalburnout #parentingadvice #parentingcoach

10 tips for transitioning into the motherhood from businesswomen 🫶 When my baby was a few weeks old, we did a talk on Clubhouse (remember it?) about ambition, business and babies. The speakers were successful businesswomen with kids aged between 1 month and 15 years. As a young mum at that time, for me those insights were invaluable. It was intimate, raw, and the main takeaways were: 1. Expectations vs Reality. People discuss pregnancy and labor a lot, but the reality of post-birth challenges, especially when juggling a job or a business, are rarely addressed. (spoiler alert: it is waaaay harder that we imagine!). 2. Mental health matters. Nearly all of us worked with psychologist or therapist at some point. Baby blues, emotional outbursts, anger (a lot of it!) is totally normal. Working through all of it really helps with the transition. And watch of the signs of postpartum depression, it can kick in even a year after birth! 3. Help is essential. It takes a village they say? It does! After the first 6 weeks of “oh my baby is just sleeping all the time”, it will be almost impossible to work without the help from relatives/nannies/kindergarten, even if your partner is actively involved in caring for the baby. Plan those things! 4. Maternity leave option. Unless you have an army to support you, taking proper time off can be a dealbreaker in your parenthood experience. Most businesswomen said that they regretted not switching off work for at least the first few months. (I am the same!). 5. Mother’s guilt. You will feel it pretty much every day. At every stage. Just know that you are doing your best at home and at work. 6. Oh-those-calls. Planning and actually attending work calls will be an impossible task. And to those I had to reschedule with - thank you for your understanding! 7. Burnout is real. For some (if not most) working mums, the desire to continue working at the same pace will lead to an extreme burnout. It is okay to take a break from your business, even if you're madly in love with what you do. 8. New level of decision making. Even if you are a super career woman, the number of micro-decisions post-baby will be overwhelming. Prioritise your mental health over being perfect. 9. Find time for yourself. Understanding when you need to take a break and actually taking it is vital. And it doesn’t mean running errands alone like going to the supermarket (yes, we have all done it!). Find activities that restore your energy! 10. Like-minded mums. Find and team up with mothers who resonate with your lifestyle and choices. Their support and understanding are invaluable, especially during those sleepless nights. What about your experience, ladies? Anything you wish to add to that list for those soon-to-become mums? I would love to hear it!