How to minimize the stress of working moms?

2017.03.24  5254

Working moms: Superwomen?

In modern society, women are playing various roles. Some of them are chosen at will, but others are chosen only because there is no other option. For example, working moms have to be a multi-player not by their choice; they have to take care of their children, attend to their parents and family, and take responsibility at work. As the expectations for modern women become higher, the level of stress and pressure that working moms feel rises as well. They have to perform well at work, and there are always going to be some dinner gatherings and extra training sessions they have to attend after work for their career and promotion. Even after work, there is no time for rest and relaxation due to the childcare and house chores waiting for them. Worse yet, there is no free weekend when it comes to housework and parenting. Despite their enormous sacrifices, working moms can easily be frustrated by the thought that they would not be able to meet the expectations of their family and even themselves, for not being able to juggle both homemaking and work at the same time.

More than half of working moms exhibit the highest stress level

In 2013, a statistical agency conducted a survey of 1,000 working mothers about their level of stress. Surprisingly, the result showed that more than 55% of the respondents scored 5, with 5 being the highest scale. This result tells us that so many working moms are under extreme stress. Working moms often do not know whether they are in a stressful situation because stress is a regular part of their lives. In a hectic life without having any time to themselves, working moms have no time to think about what they really want.

Warning signs of stress for working moms

As their level of stress increases, working moms may feel that their balance of life is broken, and there are various signs of stress rising to the surface, such as:

I need a superman who can take all my stress away!

Stress management is very important for working moms. It is not an exaggeration to say that stress management is essential for peace at home and improved performance at work. Most importantly, there is a study showing that the stress of the working mom can sometimes be transmitted to their children, possibly causing depression in them. But we all know that we do not have a ‘Superman’ who would resolve all of our stress issues. Thus, working moms have to be smart and manage their stress by employing several self-control strategies for stress. I would suggest a few tips that working moms could use when coping with their stress in the six categories below:

Setting goals in stress management

Setting a goal is the beginning of a healthy stress management strategy. However, for someone who is truly exhausted at the moment, setting a few simple goals can be too much of an undertaking at times. The following guidelines may help you start step by step.

  • 1
    Look back on the signs of stress and your life
     
  • 2
    Set a goal and figure out what is needed to achieve that goal
     
  • 3
    Set measurable targets that help achieve your goals
     
  • 4
    Check what resources you can use and, if needed, ask for help
     
  • 5
    Set time limits for the goals
     
  • 6
    Evaluate the progress and make adjustments to your plan, if necessary

Tired, burned out, and stressful; do not let those adjectives define you anymore. You are a proud and healthy working mom. Find an opportunity to change yourself, look back on your life, take on new challenges, and invest in your future. Manage your stress wisely with the advice of experts and mentors.

 

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Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Patients' Rights

1. Right to receive medical care

Patients have the right to receive proper care in a safe setting without discrimination nor should their right to care be violated regardless of their gender, age, religion, social status, nationality, language, race, or physical/mental/financial status. Medical teams shall not refuse to provide care without justifiable reason.

2. Right to be informed and to make an autonomous decision

Patients have the right to obtain full and complete information from their medical team, to ask questions, and to determine their agreement or refusal concerning: diagnosis, treatment (purpose, plans and methods), outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), discharge plan, participation in medical research studies, organ transplantation/donation, etc. Within ethical boundaries, patients may discontinue or refuse treatment, request that the medical team explain and suggest alternative treatments, and reserve the right to make their own decisions.

3. Right to confidentiality

Patients' rights to confidentiality regarding their physical/health status and privacy will not be violated. Patients can expect that all medical records/reports and their personal privacy will be kept confidential unless the patient has given consent or disclosure is permitted by law. To ensure their privacy, patients may be informed that Individuals not directly involved in their care may not be present and that the number of guardians accompanying patients to consultation rooms may be limited.

4. Right to request consultation and mediation

In the event of a medical dispute, patients may request consultation and mediation from an internal or external agency (Korea Consumer Agency, Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency).

5. Right to have values and beliefs respected

Patients will not be discriminated against because of their culture, religious values, or beliefs, and their rights will not be violated.

6. Right to receive care in a safe setting

Patients have the right to receive hospital-provided care where the patient’s medical information is protected and patient safety can be assured. In addition, patients have the right to be protected from possible dangers that can occur in a hospital and to have stability of mind and body.

Patients' Responsibilities

1. Responsibility to trust and respect the medical team

Patients must accurately inform the medical team of their health condition and must trust and respect the medical team's treatment plan. Patients may be responsible for consequences that result from not following instructions.

2. Responsibility to not use dishonest methods for medical treatment

Patients must reveal their identity before receiving any medical care and must not use false or dishonest methods, such as seeking medical care under disguised ownership.

3. Responsibility to abide by all hospital regulations

Patients are expected to treat all hospital staff and other patients with courtesy and respect; to abide by all hospital rules; and to earnestly fulfill their financial obligation to the hospital. Also, patients and their family members are expected to participate in all safety regulations.