🧠 When Thinking Becomes a Load: Understanding the Mental Load
(Part 2 of the series: Mom’s Brain is Too Busy)
✨ Introduction
Do you feel exhausted for no clear reason? As if your mind never rests, even when your body does? Do you constantly plan, remind, manage, and think on behalf of everyone around you?
If you’re nodding right now, this article is for you. You are not alone. And I see you.
Today, we dive deeper into what’s called the mental load—a hidden burden most mothers carry without even realizing it.
🧩 Mental Load vs. Physical Exhaustion
You may feel tired from housework or working outside the home—but the mental load is different. It’s the invisible, constant mental effort to keep everything organized, remembered, and running smoothly.
📌 Example: You may not attend your child’s school party, but you planned it, bought the gift, reminded your partner, packed the snacks, and checked the weather. That’s the mental load.
🔗 What is the Mental Load? - Harvard Health Blog
🔍 Signs of the Mental Load
- You can’t truly relax, even during rest.
- You overthink at bedtime and struggle to fall asleep.
- You remember everything for others but forget yourself.
- Little things trigger frustration because your brain is tired.
- You feel mentally alone—no one understands how much you’re carrying.
📊 Why Do Moms Ignore the Mental Load?
- Because it’s invisible—people don’t see you thinking.
- Because society glorifies “sacrificing mothers.”
- Because some partners focus on tasks, not the emotional labor behind them.
🔗 The Invisible Workload – BBC Worklife
🎯 How to Recognize Mental Load in Your Day
Ask yourself:
- Who notices when milk runs out?
- Who checks vaccination appointments?
- Who plans the meals?
- Who sends reminders to the family?
📓 Simple Exercises to Identify Your Mental Load
✅ Exercise 1: Daily Brain Map
Write down everything you thought about today. Then ask: who else carried that thinking?
✅ Exercise 2: Mental Load Log
For a full week, jot down every mental task—reminders, lists, worries, planning. You’ll be surprised by the weight of it.
💬 Real Voices from Moms
🔗 NPR Article: The Mental Load Mothers Carry
🛑 What Happens If You Ignore It?
- Chronic mental burnout
- Strained relationships
- Loss of joy in everyday moments
- A constant feeling of inadequacy despite your efforts
🔗 Related Articles You’ll Love:
- How to Explain the Mental Load to Your Partner
- Practical Ways to Share the Mental Load at Home
- Quiz: Are You Carrying Too Much Mental Load?
🧘♀️ Your First Step: Awareness
The first step to easing the mental load is to acknowledge it.
- Write it down.
- Talk about it.
- Share it with your loved ones.
This series is more than just words—it's a journey toward clarity and emotional freedom. Stay tuned for the next part!