Are you a kin-keeper? Here's what you should know to manage stress, anxiety, boost mental health

Are you the family organiser? The one who keeps track of birthdays, plans parties, outings, and events, and listens to everyone's problems? Then you're a kin keeper. It's a vital role, but it can also be emotionally demanding.

Kinkeeping, a term coined by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild, refers to the often invisible work done by people, typically women, to maintain family relationships. It involves a range of activities, such as planning family gatherings, keeping track of family members' lives, sharing family stories, and providing emotional support.

Hochschild described kinkeeping as "the work of tending to the relationships that make up a family." This work is essential for maintaining family unity, but it is often undervalued and overlooked.

• The mental impact of kin-keeping

Though kinkeeping is a vital role, it can also be emotionally demanding. The constant effort to maintain relationships can lead to feelings of stress, burnout, and resentment. This is particularly true for people who take on a disproportionate amount of kinkeeping responsibilities.

• Some of the potential mental health consequences of kin-keeping include:

Stress and anxiety: The pressure to maintain family relationships can cause stress, leading to constant nail-biting anxiety.

Burnout: Engaging in constant kinkeeping can lead to exhaustion and burnout.

Resentment: Individuals who do more than their fair share of kin-keeping can get resentful towards other family members.