"Maternal mental load is the overwhelming sense of being mentally overburdened by the endless tasks, responsibilities, cognitive labor and emotional demands involved in running a household and caring for your family."- Nurture Therapy

Ever wake up with a list swirling in your head before your feet even hit the floor? That’s the mental load—those invisible, constant reminders we carry all day: the milk that ran out, the homeschool snack, the birthday RSVP. It’s exhausting and it takes me away from the things that are MORE important than a running mental list.

What the Mental Load Actually Does

• It drains your mental energy before the day begins.

• It adds stress, even when everything “looks fine.”

• It chips away at your patience, creativity, and connection to the day ahead.

• It takes you away from big picture thinking and traps you in the minutia of daily life

Why Writing It Down Isn’t Enough
Sure, a notebook helps—but when you’re juggling 20 things, writing it down becomes just another task. I love to quick "to-do" list for one day tasks, but I don't like writing down all the things that I need to remember for the next two months. Also, writing things down doesn't give me options or choices that I may not have been able to see.

Enter AI as Your Mental Backup
With tools like ChatGPT, you can:

• Jot down those random thoughts and have it group them—like groceries, appointments, errands.

• Ask it to remind you with a simple weekly list.

• Let it suggest prompts to automate the little things you always need—like what to pack for that homeschool field trip.

You’re not lazy or forgetful. Your brain is full. And yes, AI can hold the weight so your mind doesn't have to keep 100 tabs open on the small items and instead can focus on the big important parts of parenting- like connection, presence and guiding children to adulthood.