The Mental Load Diaries: How I learned to juggle life, love and the neverending to-do list

The mental load isn’t just about doing all the stuff. The mental load is constantly thinking about having to do all the stuff, and then, when you forget to do some of the stuff, the mental load is also about beating yourself up about that, while still trying to keep in mind all the other stuff you’ve got to do.

The mental load. Emotional labour. The invisible burden – whatever you call it, every woman is familiar with the neverending list of things to do that exists in their head. This noise that plays on a constant loop is impacting the mental health of women everywhere.

Writer, content creator, podcaster, wife and mum Cat Sims describes the devastating impact the mental load had on her own happiness, mental health and marriage. After having children, the unequal division of responsibility in her household came into stark relief. Her desperate efforts to be the perfect wife and mother left her mentally, emotionally and physically defeated – ultimately driving her to addiction and a crisis point in her marriage.

With eye-opening honesty and her trademark dry humour, Cat tells the story of her relationship with the mental load and, in turn, offers a blunt but ultimately hopeful appraisal of society and women’s experience of it.

This necessary book will incite honest conversation, make you feel less alone and give you the confidence to invite your loved ones to share the mental load.

© 2025 Simon & Schuster Audio UK (Audiobook): 9781398549425

Release date

Audiobook: 3 July 2025