The Mental Load Assessment Test
Find Out What’s Really Exhausting You
(It’s probably not what you think.)
For the mama who’s tired of being tired...
(and ready to finally understand why).
Until I realized... I wasn't managing just MY time.
I was managing:
Everyone's schedules
Everyone's needs
Everyone's emotions
Everyone's memories
All while trying to stay present for my kids, keep my identity,
and keep my sanity.
No wonder I was exhausted.
No wonder I forgot things that "should have been easy to remember."
No wonder I felt like I was drowning (even on days when my to-do list wasn't that long).
The problem wasn't just my time.
The problem was that I couldn't see how much I was actually carrying.
And you can't release what you can't see.
✓ Lying awake at 1 am - mentally running through tomorrow's to-do list,
trying not to forget anything important
✓ The family memory keeper - everyone asks you when they can't find
something or need to know when something's happening
✓ Simply exhausted - you didn't even do "that much" today,
so why do you feel like you ran a marathon?
✓ Wondering when it's your turn - to rest, to breathe, to
do something just for you
Here's What I Want You to Know
You're not failing.
You're not weak.
You're not "too sensitive" or "too much."
You're just carrying an invisible load that no one else sees.
The mental labor of:
Remembering everyone's appointments, preferences, and needs
Planning meals, managing logistics, coordinating schedules
Anticipating problems before they happen
Being the emotional thermostat for your entire family
Holding everyone's worries while wondering who's holding yours
This isn't laziness. This isn't poor time management.
This is the mental load. And it's HEAVY.
Behind every to-do list is a mama holding it all together
(quietly, and often alone).
You remember:
Who needs what for school tomorrow
Which bills are due this week
What to buy, cook, or pack
The birthdays, the appointments, the permission slips
The things your partner would forget if you didn't remind them
The emotional temperature of everyone in your household
And that's just the visible stuff.
The invisible load? That's the real weight.
It's the planning. Thinking three steps ahead for everyone.
It's the worrying. Did I forget something? Is everyone okay?
It's the decision fatigue. A thousand micro decisions every single day.
It's the emotional labor. Managing everyone's feelings while ignoring your own.
It's the guilt. Feeling like you're not doing enough, even when you're doing everything.
And for Moms Living Far From Home? The Load Is Even Heavier
If you've moved countries, started over, built something new, far from your
support system... you know the weight is different.
You're carrying:
The mental load of your new life
The emotional weight of the one you left behind
The pressure to prove this move was worth it
The absence of the village you grew up with
The guilt of being so far from family
The burden of building support from scratch
And no one around you really gets it.
But I do. Because I've been there.
Boracay to Estonia. Brick-and-mortar to digital.
Health care professional to B2B Growth strategist.
I know what it's like to carry it all... and feel like you.
I remember sitting at my kitchen table in Tallinn, crying over a cup of coffee that had gone cold two hours ago.
My partner asked, "What's wrong?"
And I couldn't even answer.
Because nothing was "wrong" (on paper).
The kids are healthy. The business was growing. We were building our dream life.
So why did I feel like I was falling apart?
That's when I started tracking it.
Not my tasks. Not my schedule.
The invisible work.
Everything I was mentally holding, tracking, planning, and worrying about.
The list filled pages.
Things like:
Remember to renew passports
Figure out dinner for the day (again)
Update the accountant
Mentally prepare for the Zoom meeting
Research activities for the kids
Remember to call my mom back
Worry about whether I'm doing enough
Feel guilty about literally everything
And that was just ONE day.
When I finally saw it all written out, I understood:
I wasn't bad at time management. I was just carrying too much.
And most of it? It wasn't even mine to carry.
After years of watching moms (including myself) try to "do it all" while building lives abroad, I realized:
Most of us have no idea how heavy our load actually is.
We just know we're tired. Overwhelmed. On the edge of burnout.
But we can't pinpoint WHY or WHAT to change.
So I did a lil research...
I found out that mothers carried 70% of the household's mental load*
And this 7-minute assessment could change that.
Think of it as an X-ray for your mental load.
It reveals:
✓ Exactly how heavy your mental load is - Sustainable • Stretched • Breaking Point • Burnout Zone
✓ Which areas are weighing you down most - Household management, emotional labor, life admin, decision fatigue
✓ What you can release, delegate, or automate - Specific recommendations based on YOUR situation
✓ Your personalized next steps - Not generic advice, but actionable strategies for YOUR load level
You can't fix what you can't see. So let's see it clearly.
When you complete the 7-minute assessment, you'll instantly receive:
✅ Your Mental Load Score & Detailed Breakdown
See exactly where your cognitive load is coming from
✅ Early Access to Reduce Your Mental Load Planner Launch
Be first to know when it's available.
Step 1: Answer 20+ Honest Questions (7 Minutes)
About your daily mental tracking, emotional labor, decision fatigue, and invisible work.
Sample questions you'll answer:
How often do you lie awake mentally planning tomorrow?
Who remembers the important dates in your household?
How many decisions do you make before 9 am?
When was the last time you had a full day "off"?
No judgment. Just an honest assessment.
Step 2: Discover Your Score Instantly
You'll see which category you fall into:
🌱 SUSTAINABLE → “The Calm Conductor”
You move through life with grace and rhythm. You’ve learned to pace yourself, set boundaries, and keep harmony between giving and resting.
🟡 STRETCHED → “The Silent Juggler”
You hold it all so well that people barely notice how heavy it gets. You’re composed on the outside but quietly craving more breathing space.
🟠 BREAKING POINT → “The Cracked Vessel”
You’ve poured so much of yourself into everyone and everything that the cracks are starting to show. It’s time to refill before you shatter.
🔴 BURNOUT ZONE → “The Fading Flame”
You’ve been burning bright for too long without pause. But beneath the exhaustion lies a spark ready to be reignited.
Each score comes with a detailed explanation and what this score means for YOU.
This isn't another generic stress quiz.
The Mental Load Assessment Test is based on cognitive load research and adapted specifically for mothers managing cross-cultural households.
Unlike typical overwhelm assessments, this measures:
✓ Cognitive Load - What you're mentally tracking at all times
✓ Emotional Labor - Managing others' feelings and needs
✓ Anticipatory Burden - Planning for everyone else
✓ Decision Fatigue - The micro-choices draining you daily
I created this after:
7 years of managing mental load while building businesses abroad
Supporting migrant moms through guided sessions
Personally tracking my own mental load for 5+ years
Studying what actually lightens the load vs. what just sounds good
This assessment shows you what I wish someone had shown me years ago.
✓ Woken up at 3 am running through tomorrow's mental checklist
✓ Snapped at your kids over something small (because your patience tank was already empty)
✓ Felt guilty for being tired when you "didn't do that much"
✓ Been the only one who remembers everyone's schedules, needs, and preferences
✓ Wished someone would just HELP without you having to ask or explain
✓ Built a life far from your support system and felt the weight of doing it alone
This Won't Help If:
✗ You're looking for a "hustle harder" pep talk
✗ You believe asking for help means you're weak
✗ You're not ready to look honestly at what you're carrying
This assessment requires honesty. But it also offers real relief.
Q: How long does this really take?
A: 7 minutes max. You can pause and come back if interrupted (because, kids).
Q: Why do you need my email?
A: I'll send the result,
occasional helpful resources (about once a week). No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Q: Is this going to tell me I'm a bad mom?
A: Never. This assessment has ZERO judgment. It's about awareness, not shame. You're already doing amazing.
This just helps you see what you're carrying so you can put some of it down.
Q: What if I score "Burnout Zone"?
A: You'll get specific, actionable steps to start releasing the load immediately. Plus resources to help you move forward. If you need more support, I'll share options
(but there's zero pressure to buy anything).
Q: Can I share my results with my partner?
A: YES! Please do. Many moms use their results to help partners understand why they're so exhausted.
The detailed breakdown makes the invisible VISIBLE.
You don't need to prove you can handle it all.
You don't need to wait until you're completely burnt out.
You don't need to figure this out by yourself.
You just need to see what you're carrying.
Once you see it, you can shift it.
Seven minutes.
That's all it takes to understand what's been weighing you down.
Not to add more to your plate.
But to finally see what's already on it.
Imagine:
✨ Sleeping through the night...
because you're not mentally running through tomorrow's list at 3am
✨ Having energy for yourself... not just for everyone else
✨ Feeling calm instead of constantly on edge...
because you've released what's not yours to hold
✨ Ending the day without guilt...
knowing what mattered got done, and the rest can wait
✨ Finally understanding why you've been so tired...
and having a clear plan to lighten the load
That version of you is seven minutes away.
Ready to See How Heavy Your Load Really Is?
I know what it's like to feel like you're failing at something you can't even name.
To be exhausted in a way that doesn't make sense.
To wonder what's wrong with you when other moms seem to have it all together.
Here's what I learned:
There's nothing wrong with you.
You're just carrying too much (and most of it is invisible).
This assessment won't solve everything. But it will help you see what you're holding.
And once you see it? You can finally start putting it down.
Take seven minutes today.
Your overwhelm has been trying to tell you something.
Let's find out what.
With all my warmth,
Sarah Michelle
Founder, Moving Mountains - The FEMME Way
Entrepreneur | Migrant Mom | Mental Load Advocate