Wife

3 awesome chores-busters (with free downloads)

25/07/2012 , 3 Mrs Hill

As research and statistics suggest, women are still doing more around the house than men. Really, why do we even need statistics for that, we know it is the fact.

If you have ever asked your man to fix a shelf, vacuum the carpet or wash the dishes, you know what I am talking about.

Normal scenario

First stage: “Honey, can you please fix the shelf?”

Second stage: “Honey, I asked you five times already, I am still hopeful, can you please fix the shelf”

Third stage: you start thinking whether you have married the right man and whether males, in general, are capable of anything.

Fourth stage: “Honey, shelf is fixed, the divorce papers are on the table, please sign”.

Creative solutions

1. Strict distribution. You just decide to strictly distribute the workload to: blue and pink. He cooks, you wash dishes. He mows the loan, you dust. He is in control for everything that is outside, you are in control for everything that is inside. Choose what is working for you, distribute equally and stick to it. This solution is known to work miracles. The key is: not to interfere with blue jobs (ever); adjust the distribution list if something changes drastically (new house, child, employment). You do not worry whether the loan is mowed; he does not worry whether the floors are mopped. Here is proforma chores chart, you can adjust it as you think fit. I think, it is great if you can do your chores at the same time, so it feels even more fair. Please feel free to download and adjust the chart as you think fit.  Chores Chart (pdf) and Chores Chart (Excel)
2. Delegation and automation. It becomes my conviction: if you both work and have a child, you must hire a cleaner. If you can afford it, and most probably you can, hire a cleaner anyway, that will free up a lot of time for both of you. In any case, automate and buy good equipment: dishwasher, robomaid and etc.
3. Lists. My favourite solution. When I tried the lists firsts, I failed miserably. I wrote a list, stuck it on the fridge. 1 month later nothing is done. 30 second adjustment of the list ensured that the same list was completed within a week. Can you guess what it was? Yes, numbers. I have identified priorities and hubby has completed everything one by one within a week. My mum has mastered lists, she always puts “love and kisses” at the end. So, dad just treats these lists as love letters. I have further improved the list. There is a reward category. Reward category works two-ways:

• you do not have to follow-up whether the chore is done, your man will be chasing you for the reward;
• if you want to follow-up, you can just ask him: “So, how many kisses do I owe you tonight?”

Download the list and adjust it as you think fit. However, do not delete numbers and “love and kisses” parts. It will not work without these parts.

Chores list (pdf) and Chores list (Excel)

Good luck with your chores!

Can’t wait to hear from you about your progress.

P.S. Feel free to share the downloads with your friends and family, sharing is caring.