Why So Many Moms Feel Burned Out Right Now

If you’re a mom reading this in mid-December, there’s a good chance you’re multitasking. 

Maybe you’re waiting in a store line, scrolling between appointments, or running through a mental checklist that never seems to end.

This stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the most demanding times of the year for families. And, for many moms, it’s also when the mental load of parenting becomes impossible to ignore.

What the Survey Shows

A new USA TODAY and Peacock survey of 1,600 U.S. parents highlights how uneven that load still is. 

According to the data, 43% of women say they feel burned out or emotionally exhausted, and more than one-third report feeling that way every day.

The numbers point to a pattern: moms are far more likely than dads to say they manage the day-to-day responsibilities of family life, from scheduling appointments to tracking school needs to keeping household routines running.

This constant planning and anticipating, often referred to as the default parent pressure, takes a real toll.

Why Moms Carry More of the Load

The survey suggests that moms are still more likely to feel responsible when something goes wrong. 

Half of the women surveyed said they believe it’s their job to fix problems as they come up, even when those problems involve the entire household.

That sense of responsibility doesn’t stop with the logistics. 

Many moms also report feeling pressure to meet an unspoken standard of doing everything well, from parenting, to work, to emotional labor. In fact, four in ten women said they feel pressure to be the “perfect” parent.

This dynamic helps explain why so many women struggle to step back, even when support is available.

How This Shows Up in Daily Life

The mental load often isn’t about big decisions. It’s about the accumulation of small ones.

Remembering medical appointments. Knowing where the uniforms are. Planning meals, buying groceries, tracking school events, managing gifts, and keeping everyone on schedule. These tasks rarely appear on to-do lists, but they occupy constant mental space.

Over time, that space fills up. The mom burnout survey data shows that 34% of women feel overwhelmed every single day, while another 32% feel that way several times a week.

Are Dads Feeling It, Too?

The survey does show signs of change. Men are more likely than women to say they struggle with balancing work and family responsibilities. 

Expectations around fatherhood have shifted, and many dads are now expected to be more involved at home while still maintaining traditional work roles.

That shift has introduced new pressure, especially for younger families. Still, the data suggests that women are more likely to internalize stress, rather than delegate or ask for help.

Why Letting Go Is So Hard

One reason the mental load persists is fear of judgment. Many moms report worrying that, if they hand off tasks, they’ll be blamed if things aren’t done “right.”

This creates a cycle where moms stay in control, not because they want to, but because the consequences of letting go feel heavier than the burden itself.

The survey also reinforces that this is not just a personal issue. It’s a cultural one.

What Needs to Change

Nearly three-quarters of parents surveyed said family responsibilities affect their mental health at least somewhat, and 40% said the impact is significant. 

This isn’t just about moms feeling overwhelmed. It’s about parental mental health as a whole.

Experts point out that real progress depends on shared ownership, not shared instructions. When one parent holds all the knowledge and planning, the imbalance remains.

Mental Load Around the Holidays

The holidays tend to magnify existing stress. Expectations rise, schedules tighten, and the invisible labor multiplies. That’s why conversations about the mental load of parenting feel especially urgent this time of year.

Recognizing the problem is only the first step. Changing how families divide responsibility takes time, communication, and a willingness to rethink long-standing roles.

For now, the data makes one thing clear. Unfortunately, many moms are doing too much, for too long, without enough support.

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