Getting you husband to help with housework is important when you are working on your business start-up. The hardest part of working on a new business is not burning yourself out. It’s easy to feel like you should just give in if you feel like you are solely responsible for all family chores and obligations, working a full time job, and trying to fit in business around meals and in the wee hours of the morning. Momentum and focus during key business building moments can propel your business, but something has to give. You’ll need to figure out how to get some help.
Since the beginning of time, husbands have been viewed as the hunters and wives as the gatherers. According to statistics, only 15% of husbands today help with housework. Although we may not have fully evolved into an equal partnership when it comes to the home, and while there is still an on-going debate as to how to encourage husbands to help around the house, here are 5 tips for getting your husband to help with housework that may work for you.
1) Depending upon how your husband was raised, he may or may not know how to handle housework. Therefore, the first thing you can do is teach him.
Every woman cleans their home in their own way. They have a method which guarantees everything is spotless and in its place. For men, however, they hardly notice if the house is clean or not, and so it is important to discuss housework and their role – not as helper, but one who can equally share the responsibility of keeping the house clean and orderly. Discuss housework with him.
2) Offer a compromise to him. More often than not, the husband usually takes out the trash and does “manly” work around the house, such as fixing and building or working in the back yard. If you need your husband to assist you with housework, you will have to compromise a bit by asking what chore he would like to tackle. Is he a good cook? Does he enjoy food shopping? If so, perhaps he can take over the meal preparation while you take care of the house.
3) If both of you work, weekends are a time for rest and relaxation. If one of you works at home or is taking care of children, you may find it even more difficult to get your husband to help with housework. Talk to your husband about taking on one chore at a time, so that you can free up your weekends to spend more time with each other and the children. Discuss a schedule of chores with him.
4) Don’t expect marathon cleaning sessions from your hubby. Make your short list for the day and set a timer. Both of you get to work. When the timer goes off you can decide together if you’re up to tackling more chores or if it is time to go do other things. Working the chores together fosters a team spirit instead of making him feel like you are his mom. This small thing alone can make a big difference in getting your husband to help with housework.
5) If you find that your husband will not lift a finger to help you, call in the guards. Hire a cleaning service. Perhaps when he sees the bill week after week, he may decide it’s easier to help rather than pay someone to do it. Discuss the cleaning service with him.
How do you balance your daily chores with finding time to work on your home business?
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