Working on sharing the mental load?

I share tips on sharing the mental load with your significant other.

View this email in your browser This Month... "The mental load is all the stuff behind the tasks you do every day for yourself, your family, and your team. It's time to share that load." —Suzanne Brown Others' Thoughts... "For mothers, the workplace gender gap is widened by the mental load women disproportionately bear at home." — Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO of Thrive Global Calling Mom Entrepreneurs in the US The $25,000 National Grant Application for mom-owned businesses is now open! In partnership with Founders First CDC, the National Kitty Fund Grant is focused on supporting mom entrepreneurs in the US. The $25,000 fund will make investments of $1,000 each to 25 mom entrepreneurs. Applications are due by April 16th. Apply today! Share Tweet Forward Mompowerment Thoughts Hi read, How are you today? Last week was fun and pretty awful, all tied with a bow. After a fun mother/son ski trip for spring break with my 10YO (my 13YO was on spring break with family friends), I came down with a bad case of food poisoning. Not going to lie – 10 hours in a car is pretty awful. Now, imagine that with a case of food poisoning. So, on Friday, while I rested, my husband took over all the parenting and household duties. It got me thinking about what has helped us share the mental load over the years. For starters, what do I mean by the mental load? For everything you do, there is the stuff behind that task. It's generally invisible. As working moms, there is a lot of stuff behind the tasks your family sees. It's like a running to-do list and encyclopedia of information about your family, their activities, and their preferences that are all in your head all the time. Now consider this mental load for everything you do at home and at work. Yep, it can be overwhelming. OK, you get it, so now what? As you start thinking about sharing the mental load, let go of the idea that your significant other "should know." Mind-reading abilities are simply not going to happen, so focus on taking action to create change. Start with looking at the tasks you're in charge of. OK, so now consider what it takes to get those tasks done. Now you see the true to-do list. Move on to figuring out what you enjoy. Be picky with what tasks you want to keep. Look at why you enjoy them and if you find this joy in multiple ways. You want your significant other to enjoy some to-do items as well. Consider what you want to outsource. Remember to delegate duties, not individual tasks. And there is so much you can delegate from someone shopping for groceries to help with setting up appointments. Research what services are in your area and be realistic about budget. And even consider AI (see the link in the tools for a great AI source on Etsy that I shared). Think through what can go away outright. Sometimes we do tasks because we've always done them. They might no longer be necessary, but they are now part of the routine. If something has been on your to-do list for a while doesn't mean it must continue as you make changes. You've got your list. You understand you must release the mental load. Let's talk tips to you share the mental load. Be specific or let it go. You must completely let go of the mental load for a duty and be OK with what it looks like when someone else does it differently. Or you must be really specific in how you want it done. Hint: It's hard to be specific in every single thing you hand off. So, like the song says, "Let it goooooo!". Communicate. Often information is power. When it comes to managing and especially releasing the mental load, you want that power to be shared. Always. Find what works for you to share information, whether it's an email or a tool. My husband and I like to share our plan for the week and then check back in each night about the next day to see if plans have changed.   Give yourself grace and space. It takes time to learn to share the mental load and to actually take the steps. Give yourself and your significant other the space and time to figure out how to make things work. Don't quickly get discouraged and think, "I can do this myself." Acknowledge where, how, and/or why you had this hiccup, make adjustments, and then take action again. If you're struggling with partnering at home, you can download the Becoming Better Partners At Home Discussion Guide. Reply to this email and I'll send you the guide. What changes will you be making? How can I help? Already a pro at sharing the mental load? I'd love to hear what tips you share with your friends who might be struggling. Looking forward to hearing how you let it go! Suzanne PS If you're a mom entrepreneur, you could be eligible for the National Kitty Fund Grant that supports mom entrepreneurs. 25 grants of $1000 each. Apply today!  PPS Don't let your kids become frequent donors to their school's Lost & Found! Check out my favorite personalized stick-on labels from Mabel's Labels (affinity link) and make labeling your child's stuff easy. Right now these are on sale too!  Share Tweet Forward How Can I Help You? You want meaningful changes to create a balanced lifestyle, but you're not sure where to start. Book 1:1 time to tackle a specific challenge like how to be more productive this year. Have Suzanne review a proposal for changes at work. Take action now to help you maximize your time or start moving closer to the work-life balance you crave! Don't find yourself in the same place at the same time next year.  As a manager or senior leader, are you focusing more on employee well-being this year? Schedule time for a strategy session with me to brainstorm how you can support your employees to attract and retain the amazing working moms and dads in your organization. Include a workshop with Suzanne in your plan for 2024. Or recommend my workshops or trainings to Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders at your company. See more about Suzanne's speaking services and topics 20-minute, 60-minute, half-day, and full-day VIP sessions available Book Your Session Today! Insights from Mompowerment Follow Mompowerment on LinkedIn Check out the latest LinkedIn videos from Mompowerment In March I'm talking building your network as a working mom or dad. I start the month-long series with a look at allies. Not sure how to build these relationships? I've got some tips. Reach out to people you've worked with in some capacity and stay in touch. Look at your extended team interactions. Be curious as you interact. Be an ally in return. Watch now... Working Moms Must Share the Mental Load Working moms must share the mental load to stay sane, continue to excel in their lives, and create the balance they crave. Read more... Thoughts from Others and Tools 25 Working Moms Share the Advice That Changed Their Lives Great tools to help you use AI to your advantage as a working mom 100 Jokes for Kids That Will Actually Make You Laugh Are you eligible for the National Kitty Fund Grant for mom entrepreneurs? Apply today! Upcoming Events Mompowerment Facebook group March accountability session save-the-date 3/22 12pm CST (must be a Mompowerment Facebook group member to join) University of Texas at Austin Startup Event for Driving Innovation (Mompowerment is an exhibitor) Startup City Limits: Schedule (free registration) 4/19 1-5pm Vision board session for Austin moms and teen and tween daughters TBD Private events for various groups and companies New trainings will be coming soon! Buy the Books Grab your copy of either of the award-winning Mompowerment books for yourself, your friends and colleagues, or your employees.  Buy "Mompowerment" Book on Amazon Buy "The Mompowerment Guide to Work-Life Balance" on Amazon About Suzanne Brown Suzanne Brown is a strategic marketing and business consultant and work-life balance speaker, workplace strategist, and bestselling and 4-time award-winning author. She empowers working moms to create greater work-life balance and helps companies become more balance friendly. Read her weekly blog, watch her TED talk, or read more about her books at www.mompowerment.com. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and two young boys. Copyright © 2024 Mompowerment, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website to receive a book sample of The Mompowerment Guide to Work-life Balance: Insights from Working Moms on Balancing Career and Family. You will be receiving the Introduction and Chapter One. Our mailing address is: Mompowerment PO Box 202771 Austin, TX 78720-2771 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.