Singapore’s Invisible Household Mental Load—and How Smart Homes Can Help

That does not mean technology can replace caregiving. It does suggest that visibility and timely information may help reduce some of the uncertainty around daily routines. A household manager may not need to remember every appliance check or wonder whether a familiar routine has been completed if compatible devices can provide status information or respond automatically.

What homeowners want from connected living

The survey suggests that homeowners are looking for practical relief rather than technology for its own sake. Utility-cost savings ranked as the top priority at 46%, followed by time savings at 33%, peace of mind at 29%, home protection at 27% and care for loved ones at 19%.

Respondents without a connected-home setup also reported greater concern about utility bills and accidentally leaving appliances on than those with a smart home. These findings are reported preferences and associations, not proof that a smart-home system directly causes lower stress or household costs.

How SmartThings could reduce routine checking

A connected ecosystem can bring compatible devices into one app or hub and link them through scheduled routines. The practical benefit is fewer separate checks and decisions for the person who normally keeps track of them.

Automate recurring tasks

Routines can handle repeated actions, such as switching devices off at set times. That can reduce the number of small tasks a household manager needs to remember manually. Samsung describes SmartThings as a way to save time, reduce everyday hassles and provide greater visibility into the home.

Prepare the home remotely

Remote controls and routines can help users prepare the home before they arrive—for example, by turning on a compatible water heater or air-conditioner. This shifts some actions from a last-minute chore to a scheduled or remote task. The exact capabilities depend on the connected appliance, setup and local availability.

Keep an eye on energy use

SmartThings’ AI Energy Mode and Energy Management are designed to show electricity use from connected appliances and identify potential savings opportunities. Samsung says selected Bespoke AI washing machines can reduce energy use by up to 70%, while selected air-conditioners can reduce energy use by up to 28%; actual results depend on the appliance model, settings and household usage.

Check whether appliances are still on

For compatible appliances, remote status checks and controls can address a familiar source of worry: whether an air-conditioner or another device was left running after someone left home. That does not remove every household risk, but it can replace uncertainty with a quick check in the app.

Support home protection and family care

A unified connected-home setup can give residents more visibility into devices and routines, which may provide reassurance when relatives are at home. Samsung has also described SmartThings updates that include home-security and family-care functions.

These tools should supplement—not replace—direct caregiving, agreed family arrangements and appropriate safety measures. They are most useful when they make information easier to access without creating another stream of alerts for the household manager to monitor.

Two examples from Singapore households

The survey included experiences that show how small interventions can reduce repeated coordination work.

Cindy Ching, 55, helps run an 11-person, three-generation household while working full time. She uses voice controls for lights and fans, alarms and music. A connected air-conditioner is also on her wish list so the home can be cooled before the family arrives.

Clare Lee, 34, balances childcare for her three-year-old with household chores and daily routines. She remotely checks whether the air-conditioner was left on and turns on the water heater before the family gets home—actions she says save time and reduce worry.

Their examples point to a broader lesson: the value of connected-home technology is often found in ordinary moments. Turning something off remotely, preparing the home before arrival or reducing the number of reminders may not look dramatic individually, but these actions can add up for the person carrying the household’s invisible workload.

The takeaway for homeowners

The survey’s strongest message is that smart-home technology should be judged by the decisions it removes, not the number of devices it adds. For Singaporean homeowners—especially women and people coordinating multi-generational families—the most useful features may be simple ones: scheduled routines, remote checks, energy visibility and carefully chosen alerts.

Because the research was commissioned by Samsung Electronics Singapore and SPH Media, it reflects reported experiences and preferences rather than an independent test of SmartThings’ impact. Even with that caveat, it identifies a clear design need: connected technology should help households remember less, check less and coordinate more easily.