I am...Superwoman.

Too often we find ourselves trying to take over the world--every single day. We are masters of juggling the many work and/or school demands, our families, friends, you know, the works. I distinctly recall having 12-16 hour days at least 2-3 times a week while in undergrad. I had to not only join 50 million clubs/organizations, but I had to run them. Believe it or not, there's a name for what we seem to do effortlessly on a daily basis and it's called Superwoman Syndrome. Superwoman Syndrome can get the best of you if you allow it to take over your existence.

Now allow me to break it down for you. Superwoman Syndrome is often experienced by young black women. As a result of being twice the minority--female and black--we feel as though we have to always work twice as hard and do twice as much in order to be successful. I'm not discrediting this need; in the U.S., women earn 75.5 cents to every dollar men earn. As an African-American woman, it's often more difficult to get our foot in the door, and when we're in there we have to "prove ourselves" to everyone--even our own sisters. We have to be the best at what we do or our opportunities for advancement can seem almost impossible to achieve.

As African-American women, we have learned to be extremely protective of our family members. This can range from always being prepared to stick up for our family no matter what, to always supporting them in any way possible--including financially. We will even go to the poorhouse and back being generous.

While always trying to please others, day in and day out, when do we take time out for ourselves? How do we manage to keep our stress levels under control? If we fail to do so, we can experience anything from hair loss to anxiety attacks. We must learn to put ourselves first and never place our sanity in danger.

Here are some tips to come out on top:

1. Realize that although you may be able to do everything, it's not always the best option.
2. Prioritize: identify your values and make them number one in your life. Ask yourself, is everything consistent?
3. Make lists every day: what would you like to accomplish today? What can you realistically accomplish today?
4. Most importantly, love yourself: make time for some "me time."