Everywhere we look, we're bombarded with enouragement to achieve more at work, to 'lean in', be strong and not skinny, be 'bosses' - but maybe this wave of female empowerment isn't that liberating after all.
Even if we're no longer being called upon to be stick-thin Stepford wives, it's still pressure to be and do something - just packaged up differently. The pressure to be a 'complete woman', who lifts weights, does yoga, replies within minutes to every friend's text, doesn't ever cancel plans because she's tired, happily works late but still has the energy for a social life... Well, it's frankly exhausting just thinking about it!
It should come as no surprise, then, that 80% of women in the UK say they don't feel good enough, with 4 in 5 putting pressure on themselves to be perfect, despite ticking on average 26 tasks off our to-do lists every day. The Sanctuary Spa, for one, have had enough, and are calling time on 'to-do' lists and reminding us that it's okay to do for things for ourselves - not our partners, jobs, or Instagram feeds for once.
To put it in perspective, 10 million women currently feel like their work-life balance is way off - which means The Sanctuary's battle-cry for us to take some time out, and not sweat the small stuff, has never been more timely. Their #LetGo video features women who've been and done it all giving advice to their younger counterparts - spoiler alert: it involves letting things go that aren't important.
They also advise finding empty time, and keeping it that way. For example, your commute doesn't have to involve drafting emails or writing lists of your tasks for the day - just read a book you want to read, or download a podcast you like. We promise you'll start your day a whole lot happier...