“What we carry each day might not change, but the way we carry it can.” - Dr Libby (PhD) What are you carrying that no one else can see? In this episode of The School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg Durham is joined by Dr Libby (PhD) to explore The Invisible Load: A Guide to Overcoming Stress and Overwhelm. Together, they unpack the hidden weight many people carry each day. The thoughts, responsibilities, expectations and emotional load that often go unseen but have a significant impact on energy, wellbeing and how people show up. They explore why stress is not just about what is happening externally, but how it is interpreted and responded to. The conversation highlights the pressure many feel to be seen as capable, kind and responsible, and how this can quietly add to the load they carry. Dr Libby also shares practical ways to begin to lighten that load through awareness, small shifts and self-understanding. This conversation will feel close to home for many people working in education because so much of the role is invisible. The emotional labour, the decision making and the constant care for others. ---- Chapter Markers: 00:00 What is the invisible load?04:30 Why we create stress and how perception shapes our experience10:00 The pressure to be seen as capable, kind and responsible18:00 Why we say yes when we mean no25:00 The invisible load in the body, energy and nutrition33:00 Forward words and hidden expectations41:00 Lightening the load and shifting how we carry it48:00 What changes when the load feels lighter---- Reflection Prompts: I am doing my best to juggle…One invisible rule I am living by is…I will give myself permission to...Right now, I need…---- Episode 167 Shownotes - Click here ---- Dr Libby - Website | LinkedIn | Book | Instagram ---- Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here Speaker Booking - Complete the booking form to start the conversation. ---- Your Questions Answered: What invisible load do educators carry? The invisible load educators carry is the mental, emotional and physical weight that sits behind the visible work of teaching. It includes the constant thinking, planning, anticipating and decision making, alongside the emotional labour of supporting students, managing behaviour, communicating with families and caring deeply about outcomes. It also includes what happens beneath the surface. The pressure to be seen as capable and in control, the responsibility of holding multiple needs at once, and the quiet worries that follow educators beyond the classroom. For many, it is not just the workload, but the ongoing sense of responsibility and care that makes the load feel heavy. What makes this load particularly significant is that much of it goes unseen and unspoken, yet it shapes energy, wellbeing and how educators show up each day. Why do educators feel overwhelmed even when things look manageable? Overwhelm in education is not just about what is happening in the classroom, but how it is being carried internally. Educators are constantly thinking ahead, making decisions, managing behaviour and holding the needs of many students at once. Even on days that look “fine” from the outside, there is often a significant mental and emotional load running in the background. There is also an added layer of internal pressure. The desire to be seen as capable, caring and in control, to meet expectations, and to not let others down. Over time, this can keep educators in a heightened state of stress, where the body and mind rarely get the chance to fully switch off, even when there is no immediate crisis. How can educators start to lighten the invisible load? For educators, lightening the invisible load begins with noticing what is being carried beyond the visible work. The thinking after hours, the emotional weight of student needs, the pressure to respond, prepare and stay on top of everything. Simply naming this can be a powerful first step. From there, it’s about small, realistic shifts within the school day. This might look like taking time to eat lunch, setting limits around what is taken home, or pausing before saying yes to one more request. It can also involve questioning the internal pressure to be everything for everyone and recognising that capacity is not unlimited. Often, it’s not about doing less, but about carrying the work differently. Bringing awareness to what is yours to hold, what can be shared, and where you can better support your own energy so you can continue to show up in a sustainable way. ---- ** The School of Wellbeing Podcast is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
