(AI Generated Image)
Ruby Choudhury
SDE, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited
The pressure cooker’s whistle blew at the same time as the ringtone of her phone. She quickly turned off the stove and ran towards the phone which was in the dinning table. It was a call from her boss informing her about an urgent meeting due to the upcoming VIP visit. This means she has to arrive at the office one hour earlier than usual. She told her husband regarding the same who was in the bathroom from almost 30 mins. Her only son was already in his school but now it meant she has less time to prepare lunch. The house help had already done her part and left. She quickly made other important phone calls to organize the meeting while preparing the curry for lunch. During this time, her husband stepped in to assist her with some kitchen chores.
This is the scenario of almost all working women in India. Although more women are entering the working force but almost everyone feels the burn of balancing work life and professional life. The changing work cultures in India with long working hours, urgent meetings and tight deadlines, modern women are faced with the struggle to manage all her responsibilities. This has lead to increase in the stress in young independent modern working women.
Chronic stress can lead to a lot of health problems like cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, weight gain or loss, acid reflux, IBS, indigestion, insomnia, weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, fertility issues, hair loss etc.
This calls for a suitable measure to manage stress. Firstly, women should be aware of all the factors that can stress her out at any point in her daily routine. This will help her understand that she needs to calm down and even after all the urgency she will be able to handle everything perfectly. A woman should maintain a daily routine which includes physical exercise, proper food and rest for herself. Women should realise that she has to take care of herself to take care of her family. Then there is also the role of family and colleagues. Families have to understand the responsibilities of an women and support her so that she is not strained. In workplaces too management should foster a better place to work by relooking at gender policies and create support systems for women.
As it is said a healthy family creates healthy children who are the future of our country. We must look into the fact that we concentrate on all the aspects so as to create a balance and in turn return our Nation with a prosperous future.
Ruby Choudhury
SDE, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited