ADHDtime on Air: ADHD and Emotional Labor: Sharing the Work at Home with Dr. Regina Lark

You can’t do it all. But how do you share work that nobody else seems to notice?

I’m joined by Dr. Regina Lark, professional organizer, women’s historian, and author, to explore emotional labor, ADHD, and the invisible work of managing a household. We discuss making that work visible, sharing responsibility, and letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The planning, anticipating, and remembering behind everyday chores.
• How executive function challenges can affect household management.
• Why taking ownership of a task means more than “helping.”
• Using lists and Fair Play cards to make invisible work visible.
• Radical delegation, outsourcing, and embracing “good enough.”
• Creating community support for solo parents and caregivers.
• How disorganization, shame, and perfectionism can add to the mental load.

Connect with Dr. Regina Lark

Website: reginalark.com
Professional organizing: A Clear Path

Books and resources mentioned

• Emotional Labor: Why Women’s Work Is Never Done and What to Do About It, second edition. - https://amzn.to/4djlFid
• Psychic Debris, Crowded Closets: The Relationship Between the Stuff in Your Head and What’s Under Your Bed, third edition. - https://amzn.to/4dEOMNh
• Fair Play and the Fair Play card deck by Eve Rodsky. - https://amzn.to/47Bw4lY

Connect with Daniella Karidi, PhD, CPC

ADHD & Executive Coach | Memory Researcher
Website: adhdtime.com
Email: dk@adhdtime.com
Podcast: ADHDtime on Air on YouTube
Instagram: @adhdtime

Takeaways

• Emotional labor is often invisible
• Household management requires cognitive skills Emotional labor is often invisible
• Community support eases responsibilities

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone you’d like to talk with about sharing the work at home. Subscribe for more conversations about ADHD, memory, and life’s transitions.

#ADHD #EmotionalLabor #MentalLoad #ExecutiveFunction #WomenWithADHD #Neurodiversity #ADHDtimeOnAir

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Emotional Labor
• 02:39 The Origins of Emotional Labor
• 06:49 Understanding Women's Work
• 09:40 Making Emotional Labor Visible
• 12:46 The Weight of Invisible Labor
• 16:36 Outsourcing Household Management
• 20:10 Reframing Household Responsibilities
• 23:32 Tools for Managing Emotional Labor
• 24:36 Navigating Family Responsibilities
• 27:42 The Role of Community in Parenting
• 30:35 Caring for Aging Parents
• 32:41 Understanding Emotional Labor
• 37:40 Preparing for the Future