Mental Load Is Draining You... Here's What to Do About It
There’s no doubt that as working parents, we’re overwhelmed by the number of priorities constantly running through our minds.
On average, we lose 36 waking hours a week to mental load... and 9 of those hours are related purely to home and family responsibilities. That’s more than a full working day.
Most of us carry a mental load that includes work, household tasks, financial concerns, and our personal lives... but when we add emotional weight from things beyond our control, that load becomes unnecessarily heavy.
Let me share an example...
Sandra is getting ready for work. It’s her morning to get the kids off to school — she and her husband take turns. As she prepares breakfast and responds to an email about a morning meeting, her 8-year-old daughter announces she wants to spend all of her savings on an iPad.
Sandra says, “Can we talk about it later?”
Her daughter snaps back:
“You never care about what I want. You only care about your work.”
Sandra knows her daughter is passionate and can be emotional... but the accusation stings. With no time to resolve it, she drops her daughter at school — both of them still upset.
That comment plays on Sandra’s mind all day. She's distracted in meetings, agitated with tasks, and carrying the emotional weight of that moment long after it ended.
It’s in these moments — where we can't fix the situation right away — that self-leadership becomes essential.
By learning to shift the way we think and feel about these experiences (our mental and emotional response), we give ourselves permission to be fully present at work and even enjoy our day... despite the unfinished business at home.
Because the truth is...
While the demands of everyday life and mental load may not be going anywhere anytime soon...
Your response to them determines their weight.
And when you know how to respond with clarity, compassion, and inner leadership, you lighten the load — not just for yourself, but for your family too.
If you're feeling mentally exhausted from trying to be everything to everyone, explore the Stressed to Best Parent method. Learn the mindset tools that help you reset, refocus, and feel like you again.