How to deal with the pressure to succeed

Self-imposed and external pressures to succeed in the workplace and at home often create strain. We suggest five ways to cope.

Success in the workplace is one thing, but by trying to maintain a perfect balancing act, you create unrealistic expectations for yourself . "Women who dare to do it all face a barrage of criticism from both camps," says Durban-based clinical psychologist Dr Sherona Rawat. "On the one hand she is expected to be good mother and wife, and on the other she is expected to outperform her male colleagues. Finding a balance and deciding what trumps what and when can be a painstakingly difficult task."

5 ways to handle the pressure
Rawat offers tips that can help you master the process and find balance even when it seems illusive:

1. Ask yourself: why am I choosing to work? And what I would do for my family if I was a stay-at-home mom? Reach a compromise within yourself and then make peace with it.

2. Write a profile of who you are and then embrace not only your good qualities, but also those you perceive as bad.

3. Make time for yourself first, then your spouse and children. Remember to fit in alone adult time for you and your spouse and quality time for you and the kids.

4. Make a strict schedule and pencil in work time, personal time and family time, no matter how small the slot, and tick them off as you move through your schedule for that day.

5. Start the day with a positive affirmation such as "I am going to be the best that I can be today" and end the day with the thought "I did the best with what I had at my disposal today". And then let it go.

Also don't be too hard on yourself. Be confident in your knowledge that you're doing the best you can.