Hi Reader,
Ever feel like your brain is running with 75 tabs open at once?
Me too. At least 75...sometimes more.
One moment you’re scheduling doctor appointments, taking a mental inventory of groceries and clean clothes, planning meals for the week, and before you know it, you’re stressing over finding the perfect gift for an upcoming birthday.
Sound familiar?
And that’s just a normal week. Throw in a sick kid, a major project at work, a scary diagnosis, an aging parent, or emotional struggles with your children—and suddenly, it feels like everything is spiraling. That constant juggling? It’s the invisible mental load that many moms—and women in general—carry. And it can feel exhausting.
When that load goes unnoticed, it builds up into resentment, burnout, and frustrating dynamics with our partners and families. And the worst part? Most of us don’t have the language to talk about it or the tools to manage it.
This week on Life Intended, I talked with Valerie Recore, a productivity expert and Fair Play Method Facilitator, who shared some simple, practical ways to reclaim a sense of peace and balance.
Our conversation made me think about the ways I’ve struggled with this—and still do. I’ve caught myself falling into these traps more times than I’d like to admit:
- I wanna do it myself!! (Read that in your best toddler voice.) I tend to hang onto tasks because I think I’m the only one who can do them “right” or because checking things off a list gives me a sense of accomplishment. (Anyone else add things to your list just to cross them off?)
- I don’t say no. If someone asks me to do something, I’m doing it—even if it means something I really want or need to do gets pushed aside.
- I assume my husband “should just know.” I catch myself thinking, “Why didn’t he notice this needed to be done?” Spoiler alert: Mind-reading doesn’t work, and sometimes the frustration I feel comes from unspoken expectations.
The good news? These are all solvable problems.
We can let things go. We can ask for help. We can learn to be ok sharing the work. We deserve to regain some of our bandwidth.
If you’re ready to close some of those mental tabs and breathe a little easier, this episode will leave you with practical tools you can start using today.
P.S. Welp, I didn't win the Women in Podcasting Award for Best Mindset Podcast. It was fun to be in the running though and I'm so appreciative to each and every one of you for listening, sharing and voting for my podcast! It means so much and I know the future is BRIGHT! Thanks for joining me on this ride.
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE:
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
In this episode of Life Intended, I interview Valerie Recore, a productivity specialist and Certified Fair Play Method Facilitator. Valerie helps overwhelmed moms reduce their mental load, balance the division of labor at home, and live more fulfilling lives. With her background in mental health and time management, Valerie provides actionable strategies for overcoming maternal frustration, improving partner dynamics, and achieving a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. This episode offers insightful solutions for those struggling with the invisible burdens of motherhood and partner communication.
Takeaways:
- Understand the "mental load" and how it creates stress in relationships.
- Learn the Fair Play Method to share household tasks equitably.
- Gain control over time and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
- Identify key steps to improve communication and partner collaboration.
Links: