Super moms, super heroes, multitaskers, are some titles given to women, and all of this sums to one point, someone who has got it all under control and sorts everything’, these titles are not always bouquets of flowers, they are simple nomenclature that create anxiety to ensure everything is in control and sorted before time runs out. This pressure eventually leads to time anxiety.
Time anxiety is a pervasive and often misunderstood issue that many women experience in their day-to- day lives. It arises from the pressure to meet various expectations—whether from external sources like work, family, or society, or internal sources such as personal goals and self-imposed deadlines. Women, in particular, are conditioned to believe that their worth as women is directly proportional to their ability to excel in every aspect of their lives, which leads to developing anxiety about time management, productivity, and efficiency.
The constant juggling of multiple roles—mother, wife, daughter, sister, caregivers, and the backbone of their houses and families—often leaves women feeling like there is never enough time in the day. This feeling of lack of time along with is worsened every time they are face unmet expectations and the internal deadlines women create for themselves. Whether it’s completing a project at work, managing household chores, or fulfilling social commitments, the pressure to meet these deadlines can create a sense of urgency and overwhelm. When these expectations are unmet, women often experience feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and frustration.
Time anxiety can also be linked to perfectionism, a fear of failure. This belief creates a constant cycle of anxiety and stress, as women feel like need to do so much more than they can actually do and before time to prove their worth.
Therapy can be incredibly helpful in addressing time anxiety. One of the key strategies is to challenge the unrealistic expectations women place on themselves. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Neuro linguistic programming (NLP) can assist in reframing unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about time and productivity.
Moreover, fostering a mindset of self-compassion and progress over perfection is essential. Women are often their own harshest critics, so accepting that one’s efficiency and productivity doesn’t necessarily equate to their worth. Embracing imperfection and celebrating small victories can significantly reduce time anxiety.
Mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing and present-moment awareness, can also help women slow down and focus on the task at hand, rather than constantly worrying about what’s coming next.
Women since history have been conditioned to be very critical to themselves thanks to a very selfish society that has taught women that their productivity is directly proportional to their success as a woman.
Remember, everyone runs on a different clock!
