Oh Boy: The Invisible Workload That’s Stealing Your Energy

Ever feel like you're managing everything—and yet no one sees it? Welcome to the invisible workload. A recent USC report shows women are still carrying a disproportionate share of the mental load, from remembering birthdays to knowing when we’re out of toothpaste.

It’s not just about who takes out the trash; it’s about who notices it’s full. (MIC DROP)

What’s the damage? This kind of work doesn’t just zap your time—it drains your creativity, mental clarity, and emotional bandwidth. And for us entrepreneurs, that’s a big deal. Your brainpower should be spent on growing your business, not tracking everyone’s dentist appointments or figuring out why the dog’s food bin is mysteriously empty again.

Why now? The USC report shows that while awareness around this issue is growing (yay), meaningful change is still moving at a snail’s pace (f*ck). And let’s face it—whether you’re running a business, a household, or both, this invisible workload doesn’t magically disappear just because you’ve decided to “lean in” or “set boundaries.” It takes intentional systems to change the game, you can’t just out think or manifest your way outta this. 

So, what can we do? Here are three quick tips to tackle the invisible workload and reclaim your mental real estate:

1. Delegate Like a Boss At home and at work, create a shared responsibility system. It’s not about assigning tasks—it’s about sharing ownership. Think: “You own grocery shopping this week” vs. “Pick up eggs.”

2. Use Tech to Offload the Mental Load There’s an app for that. Meal planners, shared calendars, task trackers—lean on technology to take the pressure off your brain. Pro tip: Teach the people around you to use them or get a Jenn (Erin’s Virtual Bad*ass Assistant.)

3. Reality Inventory Check Take five minutes to jot down all the invisible tasks you’re managing. Then, look at what you can cut, delegate, or automate. Remember, saying YES to yourself sometimes means saying NO to extra mental clutter.

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to do it all to have it all, because that’s a f*cking myth we have to stop saying. The invisible workload may be sneaky, but with the right tools and mindset, you can stop it from hijacking your energy.

Oh b*y, isn’t it time we did something about this? It’s time to take action to help build your YES.