A New Approach to Old Chores

Is it just me, or is there always a never-ending list of things to do around the house? No matter what I do, I can't seem to ever get to the point on the list of chores where I can plop down on the couch and say, "There. It's ALL done."

In fact, I've already plopped down on the couch, and now I can't get up and get motivated to do anything. 

I've heard the quote

 "Life's too short to spend it cleaning". 

And I agree.

But I've also heard the quote,  

"Work hard, play hard".

I agree with that, too. 

It's a tough balance between the two. 

I'm most productive on busy days, but I'm often ready to just relax after work. And on my days off, I have a hard time getting started on my incredibly long to-do list. And the weekends are no better! My husband and I both have what I lovingly call "the hidden lazy gene" in which we are both great at our jobs, but put us together at home and NOTHING gets done. If one of us is relaxing on the couch, the other one wants to join. It's hard for me to want to spend our time together cleaning.

Ugh. 

I have been trying to figure out another way to handle the neverending list of household chores and tasks. 

A way that both of us can keep up with. 

I decided to make a GIANT list of EVERYTHING that needs to be done. 

First, I broke it down by room/area: 

The, I filled in each cleaning chore or task to be completed:

So there it is.

I feel that I always have a mental list of what needs to be done, but sometimes it's helpful to have it in writing for a reference point. Plus, it's pretty much a fact that being able to physically cross something off a to-do list is motivating.

It also helps the hubby to know what needs to be done, as I'm sure he doesn't have this same mental list. I feel it is a common gripe of women that their man doesn't help out.

I think it may be that they simply don't think about it as much as we do.

Let me give an example.

I wrote this list out one evening while the hubby and I were sitting on the couch watching tv. All I said was "I'm making a list of things to get done around the house".

Minutes later, he got up and emptied the dishwasher and then filled it with dirties.

And I didn't even have to ask.

I hugged him, kissed him, and gratefully said "Thanks for helping!"

Just like we need recognition for the everyday tasks we do, so do our men, even if we feel their help is expected.

The most memorable thing from our marriage counseling before our wedding was simple as this:

"Katie, you should be doing things in Chris' best interest; and Chris, you should be doing things in the best interest of Katie. With both of these things in mind, you both with have your needs met, and therefore a long, happy marriage."

I feel this is an important thing to remember, and it GREATLY applies to daily life, including those pesky chores and giving recognition.

 So with this list, I am simply going to leave it out and visible to us both, crossing off items as we complete them. You could either tackle one whole area at a time, or pick one item from each area, or pick the biggest or messiest task first, or whatever you feel like that day.

I hope this will be an open-ended project in which we can both work independently on it to finally get it all taken care of, and without the use of complaining, finger pointing, or negativity.