The Invisible Load: Why Mothers Carry the Weight of the World (And How to Lighten It)

"Did you remember to sign the permission slip?", "We’re out of milk again.", "What time is the dentist appointment?", "Mum, where’s my favourite hoodie?"

And yet, most of this labour goes unseen.

The invisible load of motherhood is more than just exhaustion—it’s the constant, silent weight of being the planner, the fixer, the nurturer, the problem solver. Society may see motherhood as an act of love, but few acknowledge it as the full-time, high-stakes leadership role that it is.

I remember a night when I was lying in bed, completely drained, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with to-do lists. My partner turned over and sleepily said, “Try to relax.” As if that were an option.

Relax? With all these mental tabs open?

I realised that night that nobody was coming to save me from my own burnout. If I wanted to feel lighter, I had to take charge of my own well-being.

How to Lighten the Load Without Guilt

💡 Outsource and delegate – Stop believing that doing everything yourself makes you a better mother. Leadership is about building a support system, not being a martyr.

💡 Communicate your needs – Stop waiting for people to notice you're struggling. Speak up. Ask for help.

💡 Let go of perfection – Your children need a happy mother, not a flawless one. The Pinterest-worthy life is an illusion.

💡 Carve out space for yourself – You don’t need to “earn” rest. You don’t need to feel guilty for putting yourself first sometimes.

The world doesn’t function without mothers. But we cannot lead effectively if we are drowning. Lighten your load. Reclaim your energy. You deserve it.

💬 What’s one part of your invisible load that you wish others understood? Let’s talk about it in the comments.