Have you been feeling extra tired recently? I don’t mean typical morning grogginess. I’m talking about the kind of tired that starts right when you wake up and stays through the whole day.
This is the kind of tired that eight hours of sleep just can’t fix. You’re not physically tired; This exhaustion happens after days, weeks, or months of being weighed down by your mental load.
You can think of mental load as an invisible stack of bricks you carry on your head every day. Eventually, this weight will become too much to bear. So, do you want a little help in navigating that? Keep reading to find out how you can save your energy before the bricks tumble (theoretically, of course).
What is Mental Load? A Definition of Invisible Labor
Consider the ongoing daily tasks that consume your thoughts. Planning a birthday party. Anticipating what your boss is going to ask you to do tomorrow. Trying to remember what time your daughter’s recital is at (Is it 5:00? 5:30?)? Is that this week or next week? Didn’t we just reschedule that? When is the next quarterly tax payment due? Where are we at on the project? That’s all mental load. And it might be weighing you down.
These floating thoughts take a toll on our minds and our energy. It’s a serious source of stress that can affect anyone. While we can’t escape the mental load, what we can do is that we can learn to spot buildups and early warning signs and symptoms before they become a breakdown.
Mental Load vs Burnout: What’s the Difference?
Stress related to our mental load can gradually accumulate over time. And if it accumulates too much, it can lead to burnout.
Watch out for these early warning signs of mental load burnout:
- You’re overwhelmed. All the time.
- You can’t sit still or concentrate on anything.
- Making simple decisions is suddenly more difficult.
- No matter how much you sleep, you can’t shake the exhaustion.
- Breaks are no longer your thing. You don’t let yourself relax. Ever.
If any of these resonate, your mental load could be too heavy. And even if you think you’ve been functioning just fine, your mental health is taking a hit.
Chronic Mental Load is Taxing Your Nervous System
Carrying a large mental load has the same biological effect on your body as chronic stress. Essentially, that means your body is in a constant state of “fight-or-flight.” Over time, this can shrink your hippocampus (responsible for memory) and expand the amygdala (your brain’s alarm system for anxiety).
Chronic stress doesn’t just impact your brain. It disrupts your hormone regulation, slows your metabolism, and triggers inflammation that can weaken your immune system. Plus, when your nervous system is on high alert, it’s nearly impossible to get deep, restorative sleep.
Ready to Lighten Your Mental Load? Start Here
We can’t avoid our mentally demanding lives altogether. Between our jobs, loved ones, hobbies, and other priorities, stress is bound to build up.
Here’s how to manage the load when it gets heavy:
- Get everything out of your head and onto paper.
- Distinguish between what is a priority and what can wait.
- Identify tasks that can go without your magic touch and hand them to someone you trust.
- Learn the art of communicating your needs to others when you could use some help.
- Build in buffers or time blocks where you can intentionally relax or do nothing.
The best course of action is to manage your stress as it accumulates, not just after it builds up.
How Therapy in Fort Worth Can Help Ease Your Mind
Sometimes the best way to lighten the load is to bring in a professional. A licensed counselor can provide the tools you need to prevent burnout and regulate your nervous system.
If you’re tired of struggling under the weight of an invisible load, it’s time for a change. Connect with our Fort Worth team to better manage everyday stressors.