Women in healthcare are burning out, not just from their clinical workload, but from an invisible second job they carry: the emotional load – planning, anticipating needs, remembering details, and maintaining relationships both at work and home. Even in relationships where both partners work demanding jobs, women often default to carrying this additional burden without realising it.
The solution lies in making the invisible visible and creating systems that share responsibility. We need to stop treating this imbalance as “just how it is” and instead actively restructure our home and work lives.
Continuing to carry this burden leads to resentment, burnout, and damaged relationships. Our health suffers, our joy diminishes, and we perpetuate patterns that hurt both women and men. The pressure becomes unbearable when we’re simultaneously trying to excel at work while keeping everything running smoothly at home.
In this frank and honest discussion, Tamu Thomas offers a way to identify areas where you’re carrying an invisible load and to consider who else might be able to share it. Whether it’s scheduling childcare for holidays or managing team emotions at work, naming the load is the first step toward sharing it. Remember that advocating for yourself also paves the way for others.
