How To Audit Your Mental Load with Prof. Leah Ruppanner

It’s time we talked about the mental load. Again.

Consider this a companion episode to our infamous, most shared episode of 2023, _The Elephant in the Relationship_ where Hugh and Penny introduced us to their mental load, and how they were trying to make it more equal in their relationship.

Today we’re sprinkling in some expertise and scientific data, as we’re joined by Professor Leah Ruppanner who explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh that there’s actually 8 different types of mental load, and not all of them are draining.

Bringing examples from their own lives, Hugh, Ryan and Josh discuss with Leah why the mental load can seem like an insurmountable amount of emotional thinking, and how partners can better communicate to reduce anxiety-like symptoms and burnout.

We chat to Leah about the exacerbation of the mental load when chronic illness becomes part of the equation, and how to manage the mental load when there is no one to share it with.

Chapters
00:00:00
TRAILER
00:02:02
The Mental Load is life changing for relationships
00:03:11
Mental Load definition emotional thinking work
00:05:41
3 characteristics of the mental load
00:08:00
Mental Load vs Burnout Treat Your Energy Like a Budget
00:14:19
The Elephant in Hugh Pennys Relationship
00:16:50
Type 1 Life Organisation
00:17:20
Type 2 Emotional Support
00:18:00
Type 3 Relationship Hygiene
00:19:03
Type 4 Dream Building
00:20:26
Type 5 Magic Making
00:25:00
Type 6 Individual Upkeep
00:27:30
Type 7 Safety
00:28:00
Type 8 Meta Care Doom Scrolling and the Mental Load
00:29:56
How to do a mental load audit with your partner
00:34:09
Align your energy with your goals
00:36:25
Delegating tasks vs sharing the mental load
00:38:24
Shift work vs running the business
00:40:30
Birthday presents and the perfect mother myth
00:41:30
Mess do men really not see it
00:44:50
Why women feel judged
00:48:41
Good enough is good enough
00:54:13
Mental load in same sex couples
00:57:07
Why perspective empathy matters
00:58:13
Mental load when youre single or your partner wont engage
00:59:02
What a cancer diagnosis does for priorities
01:05:45
A Little More Imperfects Mental Load at Work
Transcript
Written by AI so definitely imperfect
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