LG Electronics recently conducted a global survey across the US, UK, and Australia. The survey is part of its 2026 Life’s Good Campaign and was meant to determine the hidden mental load of everyday life .
The examines the complexities of daily life and the rigorous toll on one’s mind:
For many people, everyday life comes with an endless flow of demands. From keeping the home running to making tiny decisions at every step, managing daily life continues in our minds, even when we are supposed to be resting and recharging.
Hard Working/Want Free Time
The survey revealed that people work hard to keep life organized. Yet they miss spontaneous activities like reading, creative hobbies, walks in nature, sports, and unplanned time with friends and family.
The findings indicate that people experience an average of 27 mental load interruptions during waking hours, approximately once every 39 minutes. This mental load is distributed over eight hours for a typical weekday. That equals 87 days, or equivalent to a quarter of the year.
Paid Work vs Unpaid Work
While paid work is itself a taxing mental load, the survey found that unpaid work presents even more mental load, on average, 1 hour 9 minutes.
The survey found that technology is not necessarily the enemy. 73 percent of people believe the right household technology can reduce their mental load. 36 percent say their home would feel more like a sanctuary if autonomous driven technology was more present.
The findings suggest a clear direction for technology: not simply to help people do more, but to quietly take care of everyday demands so people can reclaim their time and energy.