A Slice of range V o l u m e
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Working moms, unite! MANY WORKING WOMEN FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOMETHING, BE IT THEIR OWN HEALTH, THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE, OR THEIR PARENTING, JUST TO FILL IN THE SEVERAL ROLES THEY PLAY. WE HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HELP THEM EASE THEIR SACRIFICES, OR ELIMINATE THEM ALTOGETHER.
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2006 study in the United Kingdom shows that working women display better health when they reach their 50’s compared to their stay-at-home counterparts. The study suggested that this could be due to differences in lifestyles, priorities, or personalities. But regardless of the reason, these healthier women surely were able to overcome the many challenges of being a working mom. These include the stresses of office work, child care, and being a wife to their husbands.
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD
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Office stress The office is a cauldron of stressors. Excessive office stress leads to headaches, muscle tension, sleeping problems, poor concentration, and an upset stomach.
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The sick child and the working mom Of course, family comes first before work. But a mother (or father) cannot help but pray, “Please, please don’t let my child get sick,” at the first sign of a mild fever or runny nose. Here are some ways to keep a sick child from wreaking havoc on your career – and vice versa.
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The do’s and don’t when working during pregnancy: a short list
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s if the pressures of work aren’t bad enough, a working tle pregnant woman also has to bat and , with morning sickness, fatigue rt other discomforts. Here’s a sho few list of tips to make the next months more bearable.
PLAN FOR A SICK CHILD
1. Most people take time to plan their days off for vacations and less important matters. So why not do the same for your child. Save a few personal days for the possibility of needing to stay at home with a sick child. To stay healthy under stress, remember the following measures:
1. Take control of your office stress. By nature, women are meticulous and industrious, to the point that they think they have special powers. You are not Superwoman! Delegate when you can. Avoid over-committing. Do your best while in the office, so that you can go home on time.
2. Take control of—and be responsible for—your work. Studies have shown that people with the most stress are not those with the most work, but those who feel they have no control over their work. The best way to get that feeling of control is to own your work output. This means doing a job not just for the sake of finishing it, but giving it your best so that your work output can be something you can be proud of. 3. Keep your desk neat. Clutter is subconsciously a stressor and energy sapper.
4. Ease on the caffeine. Two cups of coffee a day improves your concentration and alertness, but anything more saps your energy and makes your blood sugar fluctuate, causing fatigue.
2. Manage your work so that you finish your most important tasks early in the day. That way, when you get a call later in the day that your child is sick, leaving early will not sidetrack major projects.
3. Identify people who can help you care for a sick child. These can be family members (yes, even Daddy), friends or neighbors. If you do decide to delegate your child’s care to another, resist all guilt from making this decision.
sic kness Morning ue tig and fa ginger tea to or •Drink ginger ale Take small sips. ease the nausea. r mornings. Whethe •Slow down in the t ur day is jus mornings mean yo out to wind down, ab beginning, or it’s rning sickness can know that your mo adjust your tasks slow you down, so important tasks accordingly. Keep rning routine. away from your mo iron and protein. •Eat foods rich in n’s blood hemoglo A pregnant woma th wi so beef it up bin naturally dips, n seafood, leafy gree ry, red meat, poult d an l -grain cerea vegetables, whole and seeds. ts, nu pasta, beans, your energy levels •Exercise to rev up y. Consult your OBthroughout the da on any exercise GYNE before going regimen.
Stress •Use break times to share frustratio ns with a supportive co-worker, includ ing other pregnant co lleagues. But do this moderately – while misery loves company, avoid feeding each othe r’s negativity. It’s ba d for the baby. •Try a prenatal yo ga class.
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PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
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1. Complete your child’s immunizations. 2. Pay attention to your children, especially during the weekends. If your child is sneezing, coughing, lethargic or feverish, make sure they stay indoors and get lots of rest, fluids and fresh air. Yes, fruit juices and chicken soup really do help make viral diseases shorter and less severe! Lastly, visit the doctor early. Not only will your doctor be able to give early treatment (shortening the duration of your child’s illness), but will also be able to tell you when it is already safe for your child to return to school – and for you to return to work soonest.
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ife eing a better w
Only a few working women would place more importance to their work than their children. But it is very easy for many to place work before their husbands. Sadly, this is a counter-intuitive move. First of all, a grumpy husband can cause more stress than work. Secondly, sex is a great destressor!
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1. Share household chores. Use your feminine charms to convince your husband to share with domestic duties. Surveys showed that a man volunteering to do the dishes is more likely to lead to sex than a bouquet of flowers.
2. Plan for a night of passion. Or at least plan for a date night. You’ve scheduled less important, more mundane things on your planner. Why not schedule for romance, which offers so many emotional and health benefits?
3. Just do it. Many women, working or not, shy away from the quickie because they feel they’re being “used.” So use reverse psychology! Next time, initiate first, and make sure you enjoy every second of it—and so will he.
Here are some tips to better lovelife for working moms (and the man in their lives): So assuming that He is often as eager as She is exhausted, how can a couple childproof their love life?
Many women feel that being a working mom is a juggling act. While this may be partly true, it is also a testament of the resilience of a woman. So just like any other job you do, give it your best shot, and be proud of your success as a working mom. After all, you earned it.
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2010 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
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ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelink-consult.com
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.