Drained cover art

Drained

Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More

Pre-order with offer Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Drained

By: Leah Ruppanner PhD
Narrated by: Leah Ruppanner PhD
Pre-order with offer Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Pre-order Now for £18.39

Pre-order Now for £18.39

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

A renowned sociologist and researcher reveals how women can build the life they really want

The term mental load has become more familiar in recent years, but the popular understanding of the concept often reduces it down to managing a list of household chores and logistics. Sociologist Leah Ruppanner reveals that for women, mental load actually goes much deeper: It’s a complex form of emotional thinking that is invisible, boundaryless, and enduring. In Drained, Ruppanner outlines the eight distinct types of mental load and highlights what makes them so uniquely heavy for women:

Life organization: Staying on top of planning and tasks
Emotional support: Checking in on family, friends, and coworkers
Relationship hygiene: Maintaining strong social connections
Magic making: Carrying on traditions and creating special life moments
Dream building: Helping others fulfill their passions and ambitions
Individual upkeep: Keeping fit and healthy
Safety: Protecting family and loved ones from danger
Meta-care: Raising children who will thrive in the future

The heart of the book is the Mental Load Audit, a powerful, practical tool to help readers assess where they are spending their time and attention, and how they can take steps to recalibrate their energy effectively. Urgent and provocative, Drained will help women stop blaming themselves for never feeling like they are enough and help them create richer, less overwhelming lives filled with more meaning and joy.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing the Appendix from the book.
Mental Health Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Sociology Stress Management
No reviews yet