What is mental load?
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one who knows what size shoes your kids wear, when the pediatrician appointment is, or what’s running low in the pantry, then you’ve felt the mental load.
The mental load is the invisible, ongoing effort it takes to keep life running. It’s the anticipating, planning, and managing to completion, from noticing the laundry pile to researching summer camps to remembering to send Grandma a birthday card.
It’s not just about doing the tasks. It’s about being the one who notices they need to be done in the first place and puts a plan in place to do them.
Our Approach
At Heron House Management we believe we are all equally entitled to leisure time that is rejuvenating and that we all should be living our best lives, not constantly trying to keep up with our To Do lists.
We founded Heron House Management to provide a true thought partner in your life - not just another person to manage or task to delegate. Our approach differs from any other virtual/executive/personal assistant service out there in that we focus on truly owning the success of your projects, not just performing tasks you delegate.
Our clients report that even in the first meeting, they feel immediate relief of stress just knowing you’ve got someone on your team is who is getting your projects across the finish line, not another person to manage or problem to solve.
By anticipating life events, health needs and appointments, upcoming holidays, vacations, home maintenance, and more, we are always 3 steps ahead of you. Leveraging the proprietary systems we have built based on the needs of families like yours, we are able to generate a rhythm for your home that truly relieves your mental load.
Why is the Mental Load
invisible?
Unlike physical chores, the mental load doesn’t leave a visible trail.
It lives in your head — a running checklist of deadlines, decisions, and details that no one else sees.
When it’s handled seamlessly, it looks like everything just magically works out.
Meals appear, appointments happen on time, the right clothes are clean.
Because it’s invisible, it often goes unacknowledged, even though it’s the work that makes all other work possible.
why does it disproportionately
affect women?
Research shows that even in dual-income households, women carry most of the cognitive and emotional labor at home.
They are often (but not always!) the project managers of family life and this imbalance leaves women drained, distracted, and sometimes resentful, juggling professional success while quietly managing the endless logistics of home and family.
The result is burnout, stress and the sense that no matter how much they do, it’s never enough.