GREENSBORO, N.C. — This Mother’s Day weekend, experts are talking about the importance of work-life balance for moms.

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. Charlene Green and sociologist Allison Mathews created the "Second Shift Playbook," a book that looks at ways women can advance their careers and take care of themselves

  • Mathews and Green offer support to help women improve their sleep, navigate the second shift and provide an online community for women

  • They say it's important for women struggling with mental health to set boundaries

Dr. Charlene Green, a board-certified anesthesiologist, and sociologist Allison Mathews are the creators of "Second Shift Playbook," a book that talks about ways women can advance in their careers and take care of themselves in the process.

“This Mother’s Day is bittersweet emotions, it’s supposed to be a time where we celebrate the contributions of our lives, yet we are reminded daily in the news of how women, especially Black women, are more vulnerable than ever," Green said. "We’re 2.6 times more likely to suffer from maternal deaths than white women and then 80% of those deaths among Black women are preventable."

"Two million women left the workforce during COVID-19," Green said. "They’re coming back, but the statistics are staggering.” 

Green says it’s important for women to have resources.

“Some of the resources we have developed out of 'Second Shift Playbook' have come out of some of our own personal experiences, with navigating toxic workplace experiences, stress, and lack of sleep, so we pull from our resources,” Mathews said.

Mathews and Green offer support to help women improve their sleep, navigate the second shift and provide an online community for women to join.

Their advice to women who may be struggling with mental health and the pressures of life is to set boundaries.

“We’re trying to push back against this pressure to constantly work and be there for everyone else,” Green said.

Click here to learn more about "Second Shift Playbook."