Feeling drained? Eight types of hidden work cause women to feel overwhelmed

Sociologist Leah Ruppanner talks to BBC senior health correspondent Melissa Hogenboom about why women are still taking on most of the cognitive burden of running a household, and why understanding the different types of this mental work is key to reducing burnout.

In today’s fast-paced world, many women find themselves grappling with an invisible yet overwhelming burden known as the mental load. This is the often unrecognised mental work required to keep a household and family life functioning – from organising childcare and planning healthy meals to researching fun activities. 

Leah Ruppanner, a professor of sociology at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and author of the book Drained, explains that there’s not one form of mental load, however, but eight different types. From “magic making” to “meta-care”, she says many of these are “boundaryless” and enduring. While men are taking on more at home, women are still overwhelmingly burdened by this hidden work, which can often result in burnout.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we recognise that sharing this mental work benefits our health, wellbeing and relationships, it could also help encourage more couples to advocate for a more balanced relationship.

In the interview below, she speaks to BBC senior health correspondent Melissa Hogenboom about how societal expectations and norms contribute to the mental load.