Want to lighten your mental load? First, let go of these gender myths

"Ruppanner emphasizes that acknowledging and measuring the mental load can significantly reduce it. 'Once we see it, we can't unsee it. We can start to address it,' she states."

"In a study involving over 3,000 parents, Ruppanner found that women are responsible for over 70% of the domestic mental load, which includes managing schedules and delegating tasks."

"Ruppanner challenges the belief that women are better multitaskers than men, stating, 'What it shows is that none of us can multitask. What multitaskers are good at doing is task switching.'"

Leah Ruppanner's book, Drained, addresses the concept of mental load, particularly among women who manage over 70% of domestic responsibilities. Ruppanner emphasizes the importance of recognizing and measuring this load to alleviate it. She challenges the myth that women are inherently better multitaskers, explaining that multitasking actually involves task switching, which depletes cognitive resources. The book provides evidence-based strategies to help individuals manage their mental load more effectively, allowing for a more meaningful use of energy and improved mental well-being.

Read at www.npr.org