Mental load
The mental load checklist
This checklist puts the invisible work of a household on paper, across nine areas: home, food, children, money and paperwork, family, planning, care, car and travel, and pets. Tick what you currently remember or arrange. Both do it separately, put the lists side by side and choose an owner for each task.
How to use the list
- Print or open the listA copy each, or a colour each.
- Tick what sits with youOnly what you remember or arrange, not what you do now and then.
- Put them side by sideWhere are most of the ticks? What sits with nobody?
- Choose ownersOne person per task who thinks, plans and does. See sharing the mental load.
Home
- Noticing something has run out: loo roll, soap, washing-up liquid, light bulbs
- Knowing which bin goes out on which day
- Washing the bedding and towels on time
- Finding, calling and being in for a tradesperson
- Keeping up with filters, smoke alarms and maintenance
- Knowing where the spare keys are
- Watering the plants, also when you are away
- Seasonal switches: clothes, garden furniture, heating
Food
- Deciding what to eat
- Writing and keeping the shopping list
- Knowing what is in and what needs using up
- Remembering who does not like or cannot eat what
- Packed lunches and snacks
- Food for visitors, birthdays and Christmas
- Restocking before things run out
Children
- Reading and remembering messages from school, nursery and clubs
- Trips, payments and permission slips
- PE kit, swimming kit and dress-up days on the right day
- Arranging childcare and lifts, also when plans change
- Clothes and shoes that are getting too small
- Birthday parties: invitation, present, drop-off and pick-up
- GP, dentist and other appointments
- Booking holiday clubs and camps in time
Money and paperwork
- Preparing and filing tax returns
- Checking and comparing insurance
- Subscriptions and deals that renew or go up
- Paying bills and checking them
- Keeping important papers and finding them again
- Receipts, guarantees and manuals
- Applying for benefits or allowances and reporting changes
- Comparing energy deals
- Renewing passports in time
Family and friends
- Remembering birthdays
- Thinking of, buying and wrapping presents
- Arranging to see family and friends
- Keeping track of who you have not seen in a while
- Sending cards for good and bad news
- Arranging visits to grandparents or older relatives
- Saying thank you for a present or for help
Planning
- Keeping the shared calendar up to date
- Looking ahead to next week
- Planning and booking holidays and weekends away
- Christmas and other holidays: who goes where, what do we bring
- Finding a new moment when something falls through
- Reminding the other person of what they need to do
Care and health
- Ordering repeat prescriptions in time
- Planning check-ups and vaccinations
- Looking after whoever is ill and moving appointments
- Keeping the medicine cabinet stocked
- Arranging help for a parent or relative
Car, bikes and travel
- MOT or NCT in time
- Servicing and tyres
- Car insurance and vehicle or motor tax
- Checking the children's bikes
Pets
- Food and cat litter in time
- Vet, worming and vaccinations
- Care while you are on holiday
How SortYourMind does it
Less in your head, more in one place
SortYourMind keeps track of what you would otherwise have to remember. Routines come back by themselves on their rhythm, paperwork gets a moment in your week, and anything that depends on someone else you park until they reply. With Family, each person has their own account with their own plan; there is no shared task list.
- Routines on their rhythm: you do not have to remember when something is due
- Waiting for reply: you see who you are waiting on and when to follow up
- Seeing who you have not spoken to in a while
- Family: up to 5 accounts, each with their own plan
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