Steps You Can Take Today to Lighten Your Mental Load

May 17, 2019

You've been planning and launching campaigns, attending meetings, and making sure that your team is staying productive. The list goes on. Outside of your business, you're also making sure to satisfy the needs of everyone at home as a wife or husband or mother or father.

There's an invisible burden that's preventing us from living the kind of life we want and achieving our goals: that's mental load.

But what is mental load? Mental load basically the burden of "trying to remember everything" that needs to be done. If you're always juggling things in your mind and feeling exhausted at the end of the day despite having done little of your official work.

Here are common scenarios:

Thinking of chores that need to be done at home
Doing quick check-ins to evaluate the progress of a project
Keeping everyone in the team updated about absences, upcoming meetings, etc.
Meal planning and budgeting

In today's article, I will teach you simple steps that will lighten the mental load that you're struggling with so that you can feel more in control and run your life and business (as a solopreneur) in a realistic manner.

Take work breaks.

A break, which is a brief cessation of activity, is an opportunity to allow your brain to rest from all the logical thinking and concentration it does. If you refuse to take a break because you really want something to be done before a deadline you had in mind, believe me, you'll be increasing the risk of decision fatigue. A good break can be spent by walking or exercising, eating a healthy snack, or taking a power nap.

Remind yourself that not all stimuli will need your attention.

While everything seems to be number 1 to you, you can't give all of them your attention. The problem with us is that we assume that we should respond to everything and even admire those who multi-task. Acknowledge that it is unrealistic to be 100% at all times. Sometimes, you need to slow down and be selective of where you spend your energy on.

Declutter your physical space.

Physical clutter can be a source of stress especially if you're the type who easily gets stressed and anxious. When there's a lot inside your head already, physical clutter will confirm your mental clutter. Make sure that your environment is clean. Start with your desk. Throw away or donate stuff (if you're feeling generous) that's useless but is currently taking up space.

Batch tasks together.

Batching is especially important for those who tend to do different house chores throughout the week. Instead of doing the laundry three times a week, you can set one day to do it all and be able to free yourself from the task. Identify other tasks that you can assign blocks of time to. Whether that's responding to all emails at 10:00 am, planning blog post topics on Saturdays, or blog commenting on Wednesdays, stick to those blocks of time. Mark it on your calendar if you must.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the many things you can do to lighten your mental load. I also advise you to take a few minutes to reflect on your routine. That way, you can make wise decisions on how and where to use your time and attention. Last but not least, ask for help. Outsource some activities in your business. As a parent, ask your spouse's assistance or help from another family member.