Hi today I would like to share about the interesting topic, namely "How to overcome emotional eating, especially when caused by work-related stress in working housewives" the main reason why I choose that topic because not everyone can understand work-related stress in housewives, Understanding emotional eating is a condition where someone uses food as a way to soothe emotions, rather than to satisfy hunger. This condition is often associated with negative feelings such as loneliness, sadness, anxiety, fear, anger, boredom, or stress, As adults, we need to observe what housewives experience before we judge their habits, Some housewives choose to remain silent because they think that family leader are not sensitive to what housewives feel.
Causes of Emotional Eating in Working Housewives
Working housewives are prone to emotional eating due to various factors:
- Work pressure and household responsibilities.
- Lack of quality time with their partner or family.
- Physical and mental fatigue.
- Not having time for themselves.
- Social demands and expectations.
Negative Impacts of Emotional Eating
Emotional eating can cause various physical and mental health problems:
- Weight gain and obesity.
- Digestive problems.
- Negative body image and low self-esteem.
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Here are some steps that can be taken to overcome emotional eating:
1. Identify Emotional Triggers: Recognize the situations, feelings, or thoughts that trigger the desire to eat emotionally. Keep a food diary to see patterns of the relationship between mood and food choices.
2. Manage Stress Effectively: Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
3. Practice Mindful Eating: When eating, pay full attention to the food, enjoy each bite, and listen to your body's hunger and fullness signals.
4. Find Positive Distractions: Divert attention from cravings by engaging in enjoyable or beneficial activities, such as reading, listening to music, or spending time with friends and family.
5. Maintain Availability of Healthy Foods: Keep healthy foods available at home and avoid keeping unhealthy foods that can trigger emotional eating.
6. Set Realistic Goals: Create small, gradual goals to change eating habits and celebrate each achievement.
7. Seek Professional Support: If emotional eating is difficult to overcome on your own, don't hesitate to seek help from a psychologist, therapist, or nutritionist.
By understanding the causes and impacts of emotional eating and implementing the right strategies, working housewives can overcome this problem and improve their quality of life."
Many housewives feel overwhelmed (mentally and emotionally exhausted) when all responsibilities pile up in one place: home, children, and perhaps a side job as well.
Here are strategies that can help avoid stress while working from home:
🧭 1. Create Time Boundaries between "Mom Role" and "Work Time"
Set clear working hours, for example, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, and inform the family.
✅During working hours, focus on work. Afterward, release the workload and return to the domestic role.
✅Use small signals, such as lighting an aromatherapy candle or wearing a headset, so that children/partners know "Mom is working."
🧺 2. Don't Be a Perfectionist
The house doesn't always have to be perfectly tidy at all times.
✅Focus on what's good enough (e.g., a clean house in important areas, not everything sparkling).
Remember: balance is more important than perfection.
🌿 3. Provide a "Quiet Space" for Yourself
It could be 10–15 minutes in the morning before the children wake up: drinking tea, praying, reading a light book.
✅Create a small self-refreshment ritual—taking a warm bath, writing in a journal, or listening to soothing music.
🧠 4. Practice Mindfulness or Mindful Remembrance (Zikir)
✅While washing dishes or cooking, train yourself to be present in that moment.
For example: feel the water, the aroma of the spices, and enjoy the process.
This helps calm the mind and prevent burnout from excessive multitasking.
👩👧 5. Involve the Family
✅Children can be involved in household tasks (folding clothes, light sweeping).
Partners can help on weekends.
By sharing tasks, the burden doesn't feel heavy, and children also learn responsibility.
🤍 6. Stop Comparing Yourself
✅Don't compare your life to mothers on social media.
Every home has its own rhythm. Focus on your own progress, not the perfection of others.
☀️ 7. Recharge Daily Energy
✅Get enough sleep (although difficult, it's important), eat nutritious food, and take time to go outside, even briefly.
Sunbathing, light exercise, or simply watering plants can boost your mood."