The term mental load describes the invisible and often overwhelming burden that comes with constantly feeling the need to organize, plan, and remember daily tasks, roles, and responsibilities. Whether you’re an employee trying to balance work and personal life, a student trying to juggle multiple deadlines, or a parent trying to manage your household, the mental load can slowly and quietly creep in and build until it becomes too much for one person to handle.

When this mental load becomes too much, it can impact your psychological and physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. So, what are you supposed to do when the mental load feels like it’s too much? Let’s find out!

Recognize the Signs

The first step in managing your mental load is acknowledging that it exists. Acknowledging the signs of many people, especially women and caregivers, who tend to internalize their true thoughts and feelings due to feeling like they have to have it all under control. To make matters worse, they may even experience feeling guilty for struggling in the first place. Instead of being hard on yourself, give yourself grace during this time. Your feelings are valid. Don’t downplay your personal experiences; this could delay getting you the help you need and deserve.

Identify What’s Contributing to Your Mental Burden

After recognizing the issue, you can then work towards figuring out where. These are some of the most common sources of mental burden:

• Inability to say “no”
• Interruptions
• Lack of boundaries
• Managing others’ feelings, wants, and needs
• Multitasking
• Perfectionism
• Unbalanced division of household chores
• Unbalanced division of work roles and responsibilities

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

You’re not expected to do everything all on your own. You have family, friends, and a team of coworkers who are all ready, willing, and able to support you. All you have to do is ask for help. One of the best ways to manage and lighten your mental load is to list all the daily tasks. Determine what needs to be completed by you, what can wait, and what you can delegate to someone else to help you. Delegating doesn’t mean you’re just passing off the work to someone else; it also means sharing and emotional responsibilities.

Set Boundaries

Boundaries are an essential piece to all healthy relationships. It’s what helps to protect your overall mental health and wellness. Ensure you set healthy boundaries with your family, friends, and colleagues. This could mean saying “no” to taking on more work when you’re already busy, turning off notifications after hours, or limiting your availability. Don’t think of boundaries as being selfish. They’re a necessary component of self-care, respect, and preservation.

Take Breaks

It may feel like it’s impossible to take a break and rest when you have too much on your plate. Sometimes, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done. But rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a requirement. You can’t get everything done if you’re experiencing burnout and fatigue. Your breaks could mean walking outside, deep breathing, moving your body, meditation, or yoga. Resting isn’t a sign of laziness; it just means you’re recharging.

Seek Support

When mental load feels too much to carry on your own, it’s a sign to reach out for additional support. Lean on a loved one during this time or consider reaching out to a young adult therapist. A professional can help you work through your cognitive load and find ways to help you destress. Take a load off your plate. Reach out today to get started.