Recently I was sharing with a friend the juggling act that is being a single mum, running my own business & having an elderly mother who at that point was in hospital.
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘You’re the sandwich generation.’
I had no idea there was a term for this. But according to BBC worklife article (21st Jan 2021) I am 1 of the 3% of the UK population providing care for more than one generation either in 1 home or across multiple homes.
That’s more than a million people caught in the middle supporting kids & parents physically, financially or emotionally, or all 3. That’s a lot of juggling & balancing different needs across different generations.
This is the result of many of us a) having kids later in life, b) these kids living at home for longer (52% of 18-29 year olds were still living with their parents in July 2020) & c) life expectancy increasing.
The demographics are different for the sandwich generation across the world. In the UK the sandwich generation is typically aged between 45-54, whereas in the Philippines aged 30-35. But across the world this responsibility tends to rest with women more than men.
It’s another layer to the existing layers that make up the onion of stress. If you factor in that in the UK women are generally going through their own challenges as their bodies & minds are changing during the menopause, it’s no wonder this additional strain can bring women to breaking point.
I certainly feel the additional pressure & once again self-care came to the rescue.
Whilst my yoga & meditation practice suffered because I didn’t feel inclined to get up at the crack of dawn to practice yoga & meditate even though I knew I needed it more than ever I chose, instead, to take longer walks. Have dog, will walk so why not relish the grounding energy of being out in nature – trusting that this too was as beneficial as my formal practice.
I also chose to seek out company, spending time with people who really lit me up, making me feel joyful & supported. Women (more than men) produce oxytocin when we are in the company of others. I innately knew that I needed as much of that happy, feel good hormone to offset the additional hormones of stress that I could summon.
Whilst it has been a difficult few weeks as we adjust to the new dynamics it has without a doubt been a reminder on the importance of taking some time every day to nurture & nourish yourself – whatever that looks like. It doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive, or thought of as self-indulgent or selfish; it is , in fact, essential. And as I can attest it works: it was a challenging but we got through it with our mental health & sense of humour intact (something you need when supporting teenagers & the older generation!) & I know it was because I adjusted my self-care but continued to commit to it.
If you would like more information on how to practice self-care, message Alex at alex@alexbannard.com.
For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare
Alternatively please check out her website: www.alexbannard.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw
Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the decade, not just in the UK but also in Thailand & Germany. Her mission is to help everyone discover their bliss within & to encourage them to embrace a practice of self-care.