Mental load: when your head thinks about everything, all the time

In shortMental load is the invisible work of keeping track of everything that needs doing: appointments, groceries, paperwork, birthdays. What wears you out most isn't doing things, it's thinking about them non-stop. Getting it out of your head, by writing it down or sharing it, makes it lighter.

Where does the term come from?

French sociologist Monique Haicault described it as early as 1984, in an article about daily life in couples (“La gestion ordinaire de la vie en deux”). The idea went viral in 2017 with “You should've asked”, a comic by French illustrator Emma.

4 signs your head is full

You come home from the shops… without the bread.
3:07 a.m.: your brain is thinking about school lunches.
You send messages to yourself.
You draw a cross on your hand to remember.

Why it's so tiring

An unfinished task stays “switched on” in your head: it's the Zeigarnik effect. So your brain keeps a little light on for every pending thing. The good news: researchers have shown that writing down a specific plan is enough to quiet these thoughts (Masicampo and Baumeister, 2011).

5 ways to lighten it

Get it out of your head right away: as soon as it comes up, write it down or say it.
One single place: not five sticky notes, three notes and a cross on your hand.
Give important things a time, so you can stop thinking about them.
Share for real: “you should've asked” isn't sharing.
Do a quick check-in in the evening, then close the box.

What Reuno does

You say what you don't want to forget; Reuno files it and notifies you at the right time (Voice reminder, Voice to-do list).

Frequently asked questions

Is mental load the same as stress?

Not exactly. It's about keeping the whole organisation in your head; over time, it wears you out and can cause stress. If you feel exhausted for a long time, talk to a health professional.

Does it only affect women?

Anyone can carry it. The concept came from studying couples, where it often falls more on women.

Is an app enough?

It helps get things out of your head. Sharing tasks is still essential.

Sources

Monique Haicault, “La gestion ordinaire de la vie en deux”, Sociologie du travail, 1984.
Emma, “You should've asked”, 2017: english.emmaclit.com
E. J. Masicampo and R. F. Baumeister, “Consider it done!”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21688924

Written by Laurent, a craftsman in Nice, France, who has ADHD and founded Reuno. Published on November 11, 2026.