As the family breadwinner, you're in charge of every household member's financial needs, from food and shelter to education and healthcare. It's a fulfilling role, but it can feel overwhelming and exhausting.

You may sometimes have negative feelings, especially if it's a role imposed on you or you don't have anyone to share it with.

You don’t have to compromise your mental and financial well-being to do a great job for your family. Strike a better balance with the tips below.

You need to protect your mental and emotional health to deal with the pressure of being the family breadwinner. You'll need to manage your stress, and, more importantly, develop emotional resilience.

Here are simple ways to bounce back from challenges stronger than ever.

Focus your efforts into finding an actionable solution. For example, you’re struggling with debt. Even if you ask for a salary raise and your boss says yes, it may not happen in the next three or six months.Instead, look at the household expenses like dining out, entertainment, and subscriptions. Reducing or eliminating some of these non-essential costs can help your debt situation better.

Delegating or sharing household responsibilities, no matter how simple, prevents you from feeling overburdened. It also creates a sense of fairness that improves relationships and communication among family members. Just remember that the process will require time, effort, and lots of patience.

Some household obligations can be extra challenging when you're a breadwinner working abroad. Here's a few tips to make the process smoother.

• Designate your "household manager." Depending on your family situation, it can be your partner, parent, or sibling. When living in a household with an extended family, everyone needs to know who is in charge and represents you.
• Get creative with delegation. Discuss with your household manager, who can help with tasks like bank errands, bill payments, or home maintenance.
• Use technology to collaborate. Use shared calendars, to-do lists, and messaging apps to stay aligned on household needs.
• Remain flexible. You may have an ideal division of labor, but what happens at home will probably affect that plan.

When you carry your family's financial security on your shoulders, the pressure can be intense.

Deep breathing, aromatherapy, or massage help you regain calm and sharpen your mental focus. Combining these relaxation techniques with regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet can further relieve your stress.

During worry time, you're free to dwell on the things that upset you, but only for 30 minutes.

Conduct this technique at the same hour, place, and duration. You want to avoid areas where you sleep, work, or relax to keep them from becoming linked to negative tensions.

After 30 minutes, do something to take your mind off worries about money, fatigue from caring for others, or even feelings of loneliness. You can play a video game, watch a film, or talk with a friend about topics other than family responsibilities.

Talking to a therapist can be helpful, especially when you have to handle financial responsibilities alone. It offers a safe and private place to express your feelings, find ways to manage stress, and learn healthy ways to cope with challenges. However, therapy is most effective when you commit to it regularly.

Challenges like living paycheck to paycheck or dealing with unforeseen emergencies can drive you to exhaustion. However, making informed financial choices will prepare you for difficult times.

To be ready for anything, manage your money by following these practices:

Monitor your income and expenses to understand your money habits, particularly during challenging periods.Tracking your spending and saving allows you to create a realistic budget. You can utilize digital apps to simplify the process. Or, start with an Excel sheet that applies a budgeting formula like the 50/30/20 rule.

• 50% = needs
• 30% = wants
• 20% = savings

Creating a solid budgeting strategy will help you tackle debt and save for an emergency fund if you still need to do so.

An emergency fund is money you set aside for financial emergencies like a job loss, medical crises, or car or home repairs. Such unexpected expenses can drain your savings and may even lead you to rely on credit cards or high-interest loans.

As the family breadwinner, aim for a cash buffer that covers at least six months to a year’s worth of expenses. Put your money in a high-yield savings account so it still earns interest but is accessible when needed.

The longer you carry a credit card balance, the more interest you accumulate, increasing your debt. Paying only the minimum due can leave you a larger balance than expected.

Besides clearing your balance as much as possible, always pay on or before the due date to avoid costly late fees. These penalties can make it harder to pay off your debt.

If you're an OFW, a loved one can make the payments for you. But you can also do this using your bank's website or app. To check, go to your bank's list of billers.

Health-related expenses weigh down your finances, especially if you’re a solo provider or a single-income family. A comprehensive life and health insurance plan can safeguard your earnings against surprise medical bills and guarantee access to top-notch care.

Choose a policy that covers a range of needs, such as BPI AIA's MedLife Protect Plus, where you can take advantage of its benefits until you turn 80. MedLife Protect Plus provides the following financial support:

• Ninety percent of your medical expenses will be covered until you’re 65. This includes hospitalization, critical care, surgical procedures and emergency services.
• You can receive a daily cash allowance for a one-time hospital confinement.
• A portion of your premiums goes to two investment funds managed by BPI Wealth, potentially netting you a significant cash value over time.
• If you pass away, your family can receive a one-time payment of as much as 90 times what you pay yearly for your policy.

Scheduling regular checkups instead of waiting for symptoms to appear helps lower your risk of developing expensive chronic conditions.

MedLife Protect Plus can help you prioritize your health with AIA Vitality, a scientifically backed wellness program. It motivates you to achieve your health and fitness objectives with exclusive rewards. Think discounts for lab tests, gym memberships, airline tickets and hotel stays.

Additionally, AIA Vitality offers up to 50% extra coverage depending on your AIA Vitality status.

Remember, boosting your self-care efforts is just as important as fulfilling your obligations the family breadwinner.

Talk to a Bancassurance Sales Executive at a BPI bank near you about how MedLife Protect Plus can help address your needs.