The Mental Load of Motherhood with Paige Connell

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Are you a mom on the verge of a breakdown, always keeping track of every. single. detail of your kid's lives as well as juggling your own responsibilities? Doctor's appointments, school forms, field trips, making lunches, dinners, groceries, The Mental Load of Motherhood is a never-ending to-do list...

In this episode of Outsmart Burnout, Dr. Zarya Rubin speaks with Paige Connell (@sheisapaigeturner), a prominent voice in the motherhood space, about the challenges of motherhood, emotional labor, and the mental load that often leads to burnout. Paige shares her journey of becoming a social media sensation by discussing the realities of parenting and advocating for systemic changes in childcare and workplace equity. The discussion highlights the significance of making invisible labor visible and finding ways to articulate feelings and needs within relationships.

Takeaways

• Paige Connell started sharing her experiences online to connect with other mothers.
• Emotional labor involves anticipating and managing the emotional needs of family members.
• The mental load is an ongoing cognitive burden that mothers carry.
• Writing down tasks can help alleviate the mental load and clarify responsibilities.
• The default parent dynamic often leads to unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities.
• Expectations of mothers have increased significantly over the years.
• Burnout can be exacerbated by external factors like the pandemic.
• Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial for mental health.
• Feelings of resentment can arise from an unequal distribution of emotional labor.
• Effective communication is key to addressing domestic responsibilities.
• Intentional time with friends and community is crucial for emotional well-being.
• Understanding the language of emotional labor can empower conversations with partners.
• Recognizing that many women face similar struggles can foster a sense of community. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Motherhood and Burnout
02:06 The Journey of Sharing Experiences Online
04:18 Understanding Emotional Labor
06:42 Exploring the Mental Load
10:06 Strategies for Managing the Mental Load
13:06 The Default Parent Dynamic
22:05 Recognizing and Addressing Burnout
27:16 The Weight of Emotional Labor and Resentment
30:39 Finding Equitable Solutions in Domestic Responsibilities
39:46 Prioritizing Self-Care and Mental Health

You can connect with Paige on social media @sheisapaigeturner  Head to her website: www.sheisapaigeturner.com for FREE resources and courses about managing the mental load and how to have hard conversations with your partner.

Please like, subscribe and share this podcast with someone you think might enjoy it. And if you enjoyed the episode? Please leave us a review! It really does help other women looking to outsmart burnout discover the show.

And remember, burnout is not your destiny; it's your wake-up call!

Connect with Dr. Zarya Rubin:

Listen to my TEDx talk about my burnout story: https://bit.ly/TEDxBurnout

Learn more: https://drzarya.com

Follow along on IG: https://instagram.com/drzaryarubin

Download your FREE Outsmart Burnout Toolkit: https://drzarya.myflodesk.com/outsmartburnouttoolkit