Moms Are Beyond Tired — They’re Facing an ‘Exhaustion Gap’

Everyone is tired right now. Like, really tired. Anxiety and stress levels are skyrocketing due to disruptions wrought by the pandemic, and the World Health Organization has even entered burnout into its classification of diseases. But the truth is that moms are suffering the most.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, the amount of unpaid labor performed by women increased a startling 153%.  Managing remote schooling, caregiving during a public health crisis, job demands—these are just some of the factors that have contributed to an unprecedented  “exhaustion gap” for mothers, characterized by extreme fatigue, feeling overwhelmed, and the boredom that results from never having a chance to recharge.

“Women are putting themselves last,”

explains Jennifer DaSilva, president of Berlin Cameron, the creative agency that spearheaded a new study called Exploring the Exhaustion Gap, and it’s taking a toll.