Gen X Women: Juggling It All Until We Drop

Line Heggelund
Apr 8
3 min read

Remember when they told us we could “have it all”? Yeah, about that…

We grew up with Madonna, shoulder pads, and the relentless drumbeat of “you can do anything, be anything.” And we believed it. We got the degrees, built the careers, raised the kids, managed the homes, supported the partners, looked after aging parents, started side hustles, and, oh yeah, tried to have a social life.

What they didn’t tell us? Having it all means doing it all. And doing it all means stress. And stress means waking up at 3 a.m. wondering if you paid the power bill while simultaneously questioning every life choice you’ve ever made.

The Gen X Myth of Superwoman

Here’s the thing: We were the guinea pigs of this “you can do it all” experiment. Our moms burned their bras, and we took that as a sign to run headfirst into careers and motherhood and self-actualization and community involvement. The expectation wasn’t just that we could do anything. It was that we should do everything.

And because we’re Gen X (read: stubborn AF), we didn’t just comply—we overachieved.

The result? A generation of exhausted, overcaffeinated women who are somehow supposed to juggle menopause, mortgages, and meditation without breaking a sweat.

Spoiler Alert: We Are Breaking a Sweat

Maybe it hit you when your kid asked for help with their math homework and you realized you had no idea how to do algebra anymore. Maybe it was when you found yourself rage-cleaning the kitchen at midnight because no one else notices the damn crumbs. Or maybe it was when you caught yourself fantasizing about running away to a cabin in the woods where no one expects you to cook, work, or be emotionally available.

Welcome to Gen X burnout.

So, What’s the Solution?

Well, first, let’s drop the bullshit. You cannot “have it all” if “all” means perfection in every aspect of life. That’s a lie we were sold, like fat-free SnackWell’s cookies in the ’90s. And those sucked, too.

So here’s the real deal: You can have what matters, if you’re willing to drop what doesn’t.

Stop volunteering for crap you don’t care about. No, you don’t have to chair the PTA. No, you don’t have to organize the office Secret Santa. You are not the default event planner of the universe.
Embrace the power of ‘No.’ Say it with me: “No, I’m not available for that.” No explanation needed.
Outsource and delegate. Your partner is a grown adult. Your kids can make their own damn sandwiches. The world won’t collapse if you stop micro-managing everything.
Sleep. For the love of all things holy, sleep. You are not a better person when you’re running on four hours of rest and pure resentment.
Prioritize joy. When was the last time you did something just for fun? Not for productivity, not for self-improvement—just fun? Do that thing.
Let go of the guilt. Society raised us to believe that if we’re not exhausted, we’re not trying hard enough. That’s bullshit. Rest is not laziness. Rest is how you reclaim your sanity.