Let’s be real: if “mental load” had a poster child, it might look a lot like a busy woman balancing work, home, and a swirl of “should-dos.” In this post, we unpack why women—especially those in their prime juggling years—feel the squeeze more than anyone, and how cultural expectations pile on the pressure.

That gap is even more pronounced when we look at women, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 54.

A staggering 68% of women in this age group say that, most of the time, they’re simply trying to get through the day. Not thriving. Not even managing. Just surviving, barely. Compared to 55% of the general population and 60% of men in the same age group, this number is a sharp, sobering signal: women, especially those younger than 55, are shouldering more, with fewer safety nets.

This isn’t a temporary state. For many women, survival mode has become the default. When it comes to managing daily life, 64% of women aged 18 to 54 say it feels harder than it should be, compared to 61% of men their age and 54% of all adults. And for many women, time itself feels unattainable—64% say time feels like a luxury that’s out of reach. That’s nearly 10 percentage points higher than men their age (57%) and 17 points higher than the general public overall (50%).

But this isn’t only a time issue. It’s a cultural one. Women are significantly more likely to carry the emotional weight of daily life, internalizing guilt about asking for help or delegating responsibilities. Nearly half of women aged 18 to 54 (47%) say they don’t want to burden others by asking for help. That’s notably higher than the 41% of men their age and even the 44% of the general population overall who say the same.

Other barriers among women 18–54 include:

• Nervous that help won’t meet expectations: 28% of women vs 21% of men and general population
  
  
  

• Unsure they would get help if asked: 22% vs 18% of men and 19% overall
  
  
  

• Belief their needs aren’t as important as others’: 19% vs 20% of men and 17% overall
  
  
  

• Don’t know who to ask: 23% vs 15% of men and 17% overall
  
  
  

This reluctance to ask for help is compounded by other emotional barriers. What this adds up to is more than a logistical challenge. It’s a deeply embedded emotional one. Cultural expectations, emotional labor, and internalized self-sufficiency converge into a pattern that leaves many women overburdened, under-supported, and isolated. The result? Less time, less rest, and less joy.

It's about all of us, though. Read our full report here.

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