10 tips for better dividing up tasks at home

Sharing household chores is often a source of conflict within couples. The question of the distribution of tasks arises all the more when the first child arrives.

Make a task breakdown chart

So that everyone can adopt good habits and have a clear idea of ​​what is expected of them, you need a common support and write things “black on white”. One who sets the table, another who takes care of the laundry, etc. Once empowered, everyone will find their bearings quickly.  

Dialogue

Dialogue is the first step towards better mutual understanding, but it has little chance of succeeding if both parties do not show listening and empathy. By listening to each other, not judging, we find more solutions and common ground.

Prevention rather than cure

Rather than addressing the issue when annoyance is present, it is better to postpone the discussion to avoid conflict. Like all sensitive subjects, it is better to approach the sharing of household chores as a preventive measure, when the situation has calmed down.

Identify individual strengths

For a good distribution of tasks, identify each person’s skills, which will vary according to age and interests. Once identified, it is then easier to find a good mode of operation, without nervousness. 

Find your own organization

Some couples choose to divide the tasks in a fixed way: one is dedicated to the kitchen while the other takes care of the housework. In other families, chores are done in turns to avoid a certain weariness. Regardless of the organization, the key is to find a mode of operation that generates the least frustration possible.

Show kindness

In the family, proximity and intimacy mean that benevolence is not always appropriate, but familiarity should not override good manners. Adopting non-violent communication allows messages to be passed on in a good mood and with respect for others. It is much more effective than reproaches. 

Involve your children

For gender equality to become a reality, reflexes must be adopted from an early age by young children. Our role as parents is to set an example and to involve our children in household chores according to their age and ability: folding the laundry, setting the table, vacuuming, etc.

Choose simple household appliances and products

If you are the only one to find your way around products, appliances and machines, there is little chance that other members of the household will get involved in household chores. You can do a “mini training” for your family members so that everyone learns how to use this or that device, but the best thing is to reduce the number of household products and opt for intuitive devices. 

Hire a housekeeper

If it’s a cost, going through a home care agency saves time and eases tension. Some families use staff for laundry or ironing, others for the weekly maintenance of the house. It’s up to you to think about what would suit you best. 

Make it clear that being at home does not mean “dedicating to home”

Teleworking, or exceptional situations (maternity leave for example), can aggravate an already unbalanced situation. When you are teleworking, you can quickly find yourself caught in a spiral: being at home, you are necessarily the one who has to do more. Ditto for people who work on their own account and for whom it is easier to adapt their schedules. The risk being that the other members of the household rely on this increasingly wobbly organization.