The Perpetual Juggle? It's Time to Hit Pause
Do you ever feel like you're constantly running on a treadmill, juggling a million things, and never quite catching your breath? Do you find yourself rushing from one task to the next, even when there's no real urgency? If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing what's increasingly being called ‘Rushing Women Syndrome.’ or as I like to think about it ‘The Perpetual Juggle’.
While not a formal diagnosis, ‘Rushing Women Syndrome’ for me, seems to perfectly encapsulate the feeling of chronic busyness and overwhelm that many women navigate in their daily lives. It's that persistent sense of having too much to do and not enough time, often fuelled by societal expectations and internal pressures.
Does any of this resonate with you?
A constant feeling of being hurried: Even when you have downtime, you might feel restless or like you should be doing something.
Difficulty relaxing or slowing down: You might find it challenging to simply be present and enjoy the moment without thinking about the next task.
A tendency to multitask excessively: You're often trying to do several things at once, which can lead to decreased focus and increased stress.
Feelings of guilt or anxiety when not being "productive": You might feel like you're wasting time if you're not actively accomplishing something.
Physical symptoms like tension: You might experience tight muscles, headaches, or a racing heart without an obvious trigger.
Emotional symptoms like irritability: You might find yourself easily frustrated or short-tempered.
Difficulty prioritising self-care: You often put your own needs last because you feel there's simply no time.
Why the constant hurry?
The reasons behind ‘Rushing Women Syndrome’ are complex and often intertwined:
Societal expectations: Although not true for every family, as women we still often bear the brunt of household responsibilities and caregiving, alongside professional careers. This creates immense pressure to be everything to everyone.
Work-Life integration challenges: The lines between work and personal life have blurred, especially with the constant connectivity of technology. This can make it feel like you're always "on."
Internalised beliefs: Many women feel the need to be perfect in all their roles, leading them to take on more than is realistically possible. The desire to please others can also contribute to overcommitment.
How does constant rushing relate to stress?
Rushing is often a behaviour or a state of being that triggers the physiological and psychological responses we associate with stress.
Stress is a state that can manifest in various ways, including the behaviour of rushing as an attempt to cope or as a direct consequence of feeling overwhelmed or under pressure.
In my experience the two can be on a cycle, but it’s important to recognise, so that you can interrupt the rush when there is the opportunity to slow it down.
Why rushing and stress matters for health and hormones
Chronic stress significantly impacts women's health in numerous ways, affecting your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Physically, it can contribute to issues like headaches, digestive problems and poor sleep. Mentally, prolonged stress can lead to anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, and burnout. Emotionally, women may experience increased irritability, mood swings, and feelings of overwhelm.
And in terms of our hormonal health stress plays a key role in hormonal imbalances, because chronic stress can lead the body to prioritise producing cortisol over sex hormones (like oestrogen) due to their shared precursor, pregnenolone*.
*Pregnenolone is a hormone naturally produced in the body by the adrenal gland. Pregnenolone is also made from cholesterol, and is the starting material in the production of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, oestrogen and other hormones.
Regain control and interrupt the automatic rush
The good news is that you don't have to stay on this relentless treadmill. I fully appreciate you may read this and think that it’s unrealistic as you can’t drop anything from your day. But one of the most powerful ways to combat the rush is to consciously interrupt the automatic urge to do it. Yes saying ‘no’ to a few more things would be great. But here's a few simple ideas on how to just interrupt that rush day to day while managing all that you need to:
Set Intentional Pauses: Just like hitting a pause button on a video, take short breaks throughout your day. Even 1-2 minutes between tasks can make a difference. Use this time to take a few deep breaths, stretch, or simply look out the window. For example, research shows that looking at something green like a landscape, a tree, or even an indoor plant can create a sense of calm.
Practice Single-Tasking Mindfully: When you catch yourself juggling multiple tasks, gently bring your focus back to one thing at a time. Engage fully with that task before moving on. You might be surprised at how much more efficient and less stressed you feel.
Notice Your Body's Signals: Your body often tells you when you're rushing. Pay attention to physical cues like tense shoulders or shallow / rapid breathing. When you notice these, consciously try to slow down your movements, take some big deep breaths right down to your belly and slow your thoughts.
Prioritise Your Basic Needs: In the midst of the perpetual juggle, it’s easy to let your own fundamental needs slip. How many times have you put off going to the bathroom or grabbing a drink because you felt you didn't have a spare moment? These aren't luxuries; they are essential for your physical and mental well-being. Ignoring these basic cues can actually increase your stress levels and decrease your overall productivity in the long run. Make a conscious effort to listen to your body and give yourself permission to take those small but vital breaks. Your body will thank you, and you’ll likely find you have more energy and focus to tackle everything else on your plate.
Challenge the Urge to Fill Every Moment: It's okay to have "white space" in your schedule. Resist the urge to fill every minute with another activity. Allow yourself time, even if it’s just 10 minutes to simply be, finally have that hot drink you’ve reheated several times already, and reset without any specific agenda.
Ask "Why the Rush?": Before you speed into the next task, take a moment to question why you feel the need to hurry. Is it a genuine urgency, or is it just a habitual pattern? Sometimes, recognising the lack of real urgency can empower you to slow down.
Prioritising Wellbeing
Remember to prioritise self-care that helps you recharge and find balance. Although I don’t always get this right either, when I realised that taking time for myself actually allowed me to be the mum that I wanted, the calm focused individual that I wanted to be, the friend who had time and space for others, I stopped thinking about it as optional and realised that it was absolutely necessary. If I have no energy, how can I give that to anyone else? Self-care looks different for everyone, but whatever it is for you, stop putting it at the bottom of your list!
It's time to step off the treadmill and reclaim your time and peace. By becoming more aware of the ‘rushing’ and actively working to interrupt it, you can create a more balanced life. You deserve to move through your days with intention and calm, not constant frantic energy.