Why Do I Need Two Diagrams for Routine Work
At some point, most of us have tried to use a table, or a wheel, or maybe just a list, to get our partners, housemates, and families to do their share of the tasks that keep our homes running. But we also know the feeling of sinking when we watch a plate accumulate and then roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves. Well, perhaps the reason you get stuck doing all the chores is because you are using one diagram. When really, you need two.
Trying to collect all of your to-do’s into one table makes it difficult to separate what needs to be done more and less often. My boyfriend and I solved this problem by creating two housework diagrams, one for daily tasks and one for tasks that are done once a week or less. Having two charts allows us to focus on what we need to do and when.
Daily chart
Each of us decides when to do our day to day activities, but we know we should take the time to do them. In our spreadsheet, we put chores in there that might not need to be done every day, but we need to check if they need to be done (for example, take out the trash or empty the dishwasher).
You should also set expectations when you start using these two charts so that you can call in another person or people if they are showing weakness. For example, maybe today is your day to check the basket and you will notice that it is full and someone else had to take it out yesterday. Chat openly with them to keep everyone accountable (yes, they should call you too!).
Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly schedule
The second routine diagram allows you to capture tasks that need to be done, but not as often. I’ve found this to be a good way of doing things like cleaning the refrigerator more than once every few months. Again, you have to tweak this with household chores that make sense for your household, but the concept gives you a starting point for organizing.
My boyfriend laminated both charts, which helps protect them from kitchen splashes and also makes sharing household chores easier. You just cross the task off your list and add it to the other person, and vice versa. This is great if you really don’t feel like doing something and someone else is willing to bargain with you.