Challenges faced by the Sandwich Generation
Caught in the middle of caring for their elderly parents and supporting their young children, the Sandwich Generation is on a rather unique and demanding journey. Typically, these people are in their 30s or 40s, skillfully balancing love and sacrifices. NewsBytes consulted Lalit Hundalani, a renowned motivational speaker, corporate trainer, and executive coach, to learn about the varied challenges this generation usually faces.
Financial stress
Hundalani highlights the considerable financial strain that arises when caring for both growing children and aging parents. "With the rise in inflation, expenses towards education for children, medical expenses for aging parents, EMI's, rent, lifestyle, etc. leave little to contribute towards savings," says Hundalani. "In fact, for many average households, expenses often surpass their income," he adds.
Time constraints
According to Hundalani, the Sandwich Generation faces not only financial strain but also a significant demand for their time. "Balancing the equilibrium between ever-increasing demands of work, and family can be extremely challenging. Juggling multiple responsibilities and doing justice with each, is not easy on most occasions," says the life coach. Finding the right equilibrium between these competing priorities can be a daunting task.
Emotional stress
The constant rush to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously can have a significant impact on the emotional well-being of individuals in the Sandwich Generation. "In extreme cases, it may lead to emotional volatility where individuals experience extreme mood swings, irritation, anger, and frequent outbursts. In some cases there are chances of becoming emotionally dry or detached as well," says Hundalani.
Overwhelmed by feelings of guilt
Individuals in the Sandwich Generation, Hundalani says, may experience conflicting emotions and feelings of guilt as they strive to meet the demands of both their parents and their children. "There is a constant underlying anxiety about not being able to fulfill the needs of either group completely, which adds further pressure to their already challenging responsibilities," he further adds.
Work-induced stress
The caregiving obligations of the Sandwich Generation can have a significant impact on their career paths as well. The life coach explains that opting to work fewer hours or taking time off from their jobs to fulfill these obligations may result in missing out on career advancements, receiving reduced compensation, or having fewer opportunities for career growth. This leads to work-induced stress.
Burnout
As emphasized by the life coach, prioritizing the needs of others above one's own often results in burnout and neglecting personal well-being. Prioritizing their own physical and emotional needs can pose a significant challenge. This constant balancing of responsibilities makes finding time for self-care difficult. Here are some tips for Sandwich Generation to achieve a balance in life.
