MENTAL STRESS: HOW DO DAILY TASKS AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH?

 Mental stress: How do daily tasks affect our mental health?

Do you sometimes feel physically and mentally exhausted and exhausted, as if you are completely exhausted, even though you are not physically tired or doing any physical effort? This may be due to the mental effort you put into your daily life!

What do you know about mental effort?

Mental load is all the tasks and responsibilities that require you to think, plan, organize, and pay attention. They may seem as simple as remembering the shopping list, the kids' appointments, or your partner's emotional needs, but when these tasks pile up in your mind, they increase stress and anxiety, affect both your physical and mental health, and cause you mental stress and drain your energy.

Stress is usually associated with managing the family and home, which falls on the shoulders of parents who play a major role in meeting the needs of family members, and paying attention to small and large details. Psychological pressures at work or job can also add more mental effort to your shoulders.

Emotional effort: an additional burden!

Mental effort also includes your emotional effort, that is, dealing with the feelings and experiences of others, supporting and guiding them, and this also increases your stress without you knowing it.

For example, there are a lot of emotional responsibilities from parents towards children. Whether your child did not qualify for the soccer team he wanted, feels pressured by schoolwork, or has his own problems with his friends, he may need support and advice, and you are here for you. To take responsibility for this alongside your daily burdens.

Forms of mental effort

Melbourne University experts point out that mental effort can take three forms:

Invisible, which is internal thinking about burdens, which results in increased physical effort.

Without limits, when you think about your burdens at all times, whether at work, during free time, or even when sleeping.

Never ending, which is usually associated with constant care for loved ones and family, such as around-the-clock childcare.

Harmful effects of stress on the health and social levels

When the mental load becomes heavy and exhausting, you become exhausted and stressed, and your physical, mental, and emotional health is affected, as it can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, and this affects the quality of sleep, general health, and may increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Psychological burden can also affect relationships at home or at work, as it reduces self-confidence and satisfaction with life and the partner, and can lead to job burnout and a decline in performance and productivity.

How do I deal with stress?

Mental effort cannot be eliminated completely, as it is an integral part of our lives, especially if you are a parent or responsible for others, but these five tips may help lighten the burden on you:

Talk to your partner: Your husband/wife may not be aware of all the tasks you are doing, so find together a weekly time to share what you feel and everything you are going through, and plan together to review the tasks expected in the coming week, and appoint a special person responsible for each. Important, but do not forget that you may have to go through unexpected tasks, especially if you have children.

Create a daily or weekly list of priorities: Arrange your tasks on paper or an electronic notebook, and distribute them into two lists, one for priorities that must be done immediately, and the other for general tasks, which you do not need to deal with immediately. This way, you will not forget the tasks required of you, and they will not take up unnecessary space in your mind.

Distribute tasks and responsibilities with others: Have your partner or a family member help you with the tasks you undertake, or hire someone to help. Do not try to complicate matters, and trust that the work will be done, even if it is not the way you do it.

Setting limits: You must set limits for yourself to reduce the burden on you. For example, you can agree to some tasks that suit you, or reject others if you cannot, and never be ashamed to say that, especially for older children, as you must teach them self-responsibility. ; From preparing their school bags on their own, participating in household chores, etc.

Taking care of yourself: The best way to reduce stress in your life is to take care of yourself, by getting enough sleep, and exercising that you like, even if for short periods, and perhaps you can practice meditation, yoga, or any other hobby that you like.