As a health, fitness, and nutrition coach, I’ve had the privilege of working with many incredible women. One common thread I’ve noticed is how much emotional labour they carry daily.
Emotional labour isn’t just about feelings—it’s the invisible work of managing emotions, maintaining relationships, and meeting unspoken societal expectations. It’s the reason many women feel exhausted before they even set foot in the gym or sit down for a nutritious meal.
What Is Emotional Labour?
Emotional labour is the expectation that a person will regulate their emotions and sometimes the emotions of others. For women, this often includes managing household dynamics, navigating workplace expectations, and handling social pressures. This work can be mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting.
Some common examples include:
Mediating between arguing children at home
Balancing assertiveness in the workplace without being labeled as “too much”
Enduring scrutiny over appearance and clothing choices in social settings
Remaining composed in the face of street harassment
This constant demand on women’s emotional and mental energy has real consequences. Over time, it leads to fatigue, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even a diminished sense of personal achievement.
How Emotional Labour Affects Health and Fitness
Many of the women I coach come to me feeling drained and overwhelmed. They want to train, eat well, and practice self-care, but emotional labour is taking up their energy reserves. If you find yourself struggling to maintain a fitness routine or prioritize your health, consider whether emotional labour is playing a role.
Examples of emotional labour turning into physical labour include:
Coordinating family schedules and planning events
Grocery shopping, meal prep, and cooking
Managing household chores and caregiving responsibilities
Scheduling doctor’s appointments and keeping up with family health needs
All of these tasks take time and effort, often leaving little room for workouts, meal planning, and recovery.
How to Lighten the Load
As a coach, my goal is to help women not only build strength in the gym but also find ways to reduce their overall stress load.
Here are four strategies to help:
Recognize Emotional Labour: Just acknowledging the existence of emotional labour can be empowering. Many women don’t realize there’s a term for what they’ve been experiencing their entire lives.
Develop Coping Strategies: Encourage self-care practices such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, quality sleep, and moments of mindfulness. Small habits can create big shifts in overall well-being.
Challenge Social Expectations: Watch out for phrases like “women are just better at handling emotions.” This assumption places an unfair burden on women and reinforces the idea that they must take on extra responsibilities.
Identify Signs of Burnout: Listen to your body and emotions. If you’re constantly saying, “It never ends!” or “I can’t keep up!” it may be time to reassess and find ways to delegate or set boundaries.
Taking Back Your Energy
Women carry a heavy load, but that doesn’t mean they have to do it alone. If you're navigating this reality yourself, the key is awareness, support, and intentional self-care. Prioritizing your health and fitness isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. By recognizing and addressing emotional labour, you can reclaim the energy you need to thrive in every aspect of life.
Need help getting started? Book a FREE health strategy session with me today.
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