Expert highlights the "mental load" as a major cause of maternal burnout

In an era where the boundaries between professional and domestic life are increasingly blurred, Specialist Prakriti Poddar has highlighted a vital strategy for maintaining familial harmony.

She suggests that families should divide responsibilities by ownership, rather than merely ticking off a list of chores.

This human-centric approach encourages each member to take full accountability for specific areas of the home, fostering a sense of pride and reducing the constant need for parental "micromanagement".

By shifting the focus toward ownership, families can move away from the traditional, often lopsided, distribution of labour.

When a child or partner "owns" a task—be it the evening meal or the care of a family pet—they become the primary decision-maker for that domain.

This empowerment is not just about efficiency; it is about building a supportive environment where every individual feels their contribution is essential to the collective well-being.

Implementing the Strategy

To successfully transition to this model, families are encouraged to consider the following practical steps:

• Hold a family meeting to discuss current pressures.
• Identify specific "zones" or tasks that can be fully managed by one person.
• Ensure that the person in charge has the necessary tools and authority.
• Offer praise for the effort and the outcome, rather than just the completion.

Prakriti Poddar notes that this shift requires patience and trust. As she explains, "families divide responsibilities by ownership" to create a more sustainable and less stressful living environment.

This method ensures that the mental load is shared, allowing for more quality time and deeper emotional connections between loved ones.