Parenthood: rewarding, chaotic, and often a masterclass in multitasking under pressure. But when you’re busy caring for kids, your own needs slide to the bottom of the pile. In this post, we shine a light on the “parent penalty”—why parents put themselves last, and how that adds to the mental load.
Nowhere is the mental load more visible than among parents with children under 18. They aren’t just juggling more responsibilities; they’re also more likely to delay or avoid critical tasks, particularly when it comes to their own well-being.
The top task parents with children under 18 procrastinate? Scheduling a doctor’s appointment for themselves. Over a third (35%) say they stay up late or squeeze it in at odd hours, procrastinate, or avoid it completely—5 points higher than the general public overall.
But the delay isn’t due to indifference; it’s often a consequence of putting others first. Parents are more than 10% more likely to schedule a family member's doctor’s appointment on time (67%), compared to their own (56%).
Beyond this, when it comes to travel, errands, or even self-care, procrastination surges.
Schedule a doctor’s appointment for yourself: 35% vs 30% general population
Purchasing self-care products or services for yourself: 35% vs 27%
Purchasing gifts for friends and family: 32% vs 27%
Car maintenance: 30% vs 28%
Travel coordination: 27% vs 23%
Buying groceries: 24% vs 19%
Scheduling a doctor’s appointment for a family member: 22% vs 22%
Parents with children under 18 are also more likely to push tasks into the margins of the day:
16% of parents report staying up late or squeezing gift-buying into odd hours, compared to 11% of the general public.
12% tackle grocery shopping during unconventional hours versus 8% of the general public.
14% delay self-care tasks until late or off-hours, compared to only 10% of the general public.
The consequences are clear. 65% of parents of kids under 18 say they’re just trying to get through the day instead of enjoying it—10 points higher than the general population overall. One quarter (25%) strongly agree with that statement.
For parents, time isn’t just tight—it’s out of reach. Two-thirds (66%) agree that “time feels like a luxury that’s out of reach,” compared to only half of the general population overall. And perhaps most telling: 88% of parents with kids under 18 say they wish they could offload at least one of their life management tasks. At the top of their wish list? Household upkeep (40%), shopping (31%), and managing healthcare and self-care logistics (32%).
The desire for help is overwhelming. The gap between that desire and the reality of actually receiving help is even greater.
There's more. Read our full report here.
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