Routine for chores - how frequently do you do these tasks?

[red_dog]

My psychologist has recommended that I develop a routine for my chores, so I don't get so overwhelmed and forget to do them. The first step I need to do is list all the household chores & hygiene tasks that I need to do, how long they would take me to do and how frequently I should do them.

How frequently do you do the tasks below, and how long does each take you?
Shower
Wash hair
Shave (underarms & legs)
Clean & floss teeth
Cut finger & toe nails
? Any other hygiene tasks

Wash clothes, bedding & towels
Wash dishes
Collect mail & sort paperwork
Put out rubbish
Grocery shop
Plan menu
Cook meals
Clean bathroom
Sweep/Mop floors
? Any other household chores

Thanks in advance for your answers

 

[King_Oni]

As someone who doesn't do routines at all (and actively tries to avoid falling into routines) I don't know how much my advice is worth.

But I do all those tasks you mention when I need to, not when I'm having to work through a bunch of arbitrarily set schedules.

As much as I'm not critizing you (or anyone who struggles with these things), I do wonder how personal care can be forgotten so easily by some. I usually shower daily and not just for kicks; eventually I feel that I start developing a certain odor and I just want to shower and get clean. And I guess the same goes with cleaning up at home; if it's a mess I cannot deal with, I'll clean up, otherwise, I really don't bother to much with it.

But I'll have a go and run down the list of chores you list and see what I can come up with.

Shower (Daily; 5 to 10 minutes max)
Wash hair (Goes with showering)
Clean & floss teeth (Daily, might even do it twice; 5 minutes)
Cut finger & toe nails (I'm a bit of nailbiter sometimes, so my fingernails are usually short. Toenails I sometimes clip when I'm watching a movie or so, so I couldn't really give you a time on that, but I can hardly call it an extensive chore).

Wash clothes, bedding & towels (usually 1 set before I run out of fresh ones; By now I can pretty much gauge, by the amount of laundry in the hamper how much clean stuff I still have)
Wash dishes (When I use them I tend to clean them after my meals; that way it doesn't pile up and become a huge chore)
Collect mail & sort paperwork (Once a day, usually late at night when I know maildelivery came over. As for paperwork; sort it out once, but it in an organized binder. It's a one time task and you just need to add new papers, when needed in there.)
Put out rubbish (when the bin is full)
Grocery shop (I visit daily, but it's 1. not even a 10 minute walk 2. I don't have a car, so I can't do a lot of groceries at once and 3. see Plan menu)
Plan menu (I'm such a marvelous planner that I actually plan at the grocery store what's for dinner. But I remember fairly well what's still in the fridge at home, so my planning happens on the spot)
Cook meals (I'll say that cooking and the entire thing is somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on what I'm having)
Clean bathroom (I try to get on with it weekly and depending on how dirty it is, it can be anywhere from 30 minutes up to an hour... or 2)
Sweep/Mop floors (I rarely mop the floors, perhaps those are the merits of living small; you don't make as much of a mess of everything; that said I wouldn't recommend anyone eating from my floors, but really, that's why I do my dishes regularly, lol)

 

[watersprite]

My psychologist has recommended that I develop a routine for my chores, so I don't get so overwhelmed and forget to do them. The first step I need to do is list all the household chores & hygiene tasks that I need to do, how long they would take me to do and how frequently I should do them.

How frequently do you do the tasks below, and how long does each take you?

Shower - every other day, takes 30 minutes but includes the stuff below
Wash hair - part of above and dry and detangle it too
Get Dressed - daily 4 minutes and or included as part of shower
Shave (underarms & legs) - once a month, as part of shower (winter) but in summer, once a week
Clean & floss teeth - daily, takes 5 minutes
Cut finger & toe nails - toenails (I bite my fingernails) once every 2 weeks, takes 5 minutes
? Any other hygiene tasks - haircut and color - at a salon, 2 to 3 times a year, takes an hour (I hate doing this but it is important)

Wash clothes, bedding & towels - every 2 weeks for bedding, twice a week for towels, takes 45 minutes but the machines do the work while I do other things
Wash dishes - once or twice daily takes 6 minutes
Collect mail & sort paperwork aughhhhh I hate this, I do it once a week if I'm being good, takes 30 minutes
Put out rubbish - every day because I have cats, takes 3 minutes
Grocery shop - once a week, takes 1 hour
Plan menu - make lists for ingredients, picture making the dishes: once a week, takes 15 minutes
Cook meals - daily for breakfast, dinners 3 times a week, the rest is leftovers heated up with added fresh veggies, takes various times
Clean bathroom - swish surfaces with spray cleaner daily, takes 2 minutes
Sweep/Mop floors - 3 or 4 times a week for sweep, vacuum with earplugs once a week, mop various
? Any other household chores - clean cat litter box twice a day, takes 2 minutes,
Clean desktops, counters, shelves - once a week - takes 5 minutes
make beds - daily, takes 2 or 3 minutes
Workout - daily, various times and kinds (it is a good chore because it keeps my body and brain healthier)
Lawn and Garden - once a week in spring, summer, takes at least an hour

 

[garnetflower13]

How frequently do you do the tasks below, and how long does each take you?

Wash clothes, bedding & towels: I wash clothing a couple times a week, but bedding and towels get washed once weekly. To keep dust mites down, I often put quilts through the dryer for about twenty minutes. The laundry takes about an hour or more from washer to dryer.
Wash dishes: Once or Twice a day, takes about one half hour if there isn't a lot of it.
Collect mail & sort paperwork: Daily. Takes about fifteen minutes to open mail, file or discard if junk mail.
Put out rubbish: When the trash bag is full I take it out to the big can for collection.Takes five minutes.
Grocery shop: Several times a week; my husband usually does this on the way from work. It takes him about 20 minutes to pick up a few items, about an hour for a lot of stuff.
Plan menu: I usually rotate a few well known meals and use one night a week to eat leftovers. Doesn't take long at all unless trying something new.
Cook meals: We take turns. Meals prep times can vary depending upon what is being prepared. Anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.
Clean bathroom: About an hour, once a week.
Sweep/Mop floors: Can take a couple hours to vacuum the entire house once a week. Mopping? What's that?
? Any other household chores: Changing the litter box once a week, washing it and refilling it with litter about 15 minutes.

How frequently do you do the tasks below, and how long does each take you?
Shower: Daily, takes about 15 minutes
Wash hair: Once a week, takes about 20 minutes.
Shave (underarms & legs) N/A
Clean & floss teeth: Twice daily, takes about ten minutes.
Cut finger & toe nails: I bite my nails, unfortunately and I cut toenails only when they get so long they make my shoes uncomfortable.
? Any other hygiene tasks

Thanks in advance for your answers

 

[red_dog]

I do wonder how personal care can be forgotten so easily by some. I usually shower daily and not just for kicks; eventually I feel that I start developing a certain odor and I just want to shower and get clean. And I guess the same goes with cleaning up at home; if it's a mess I cannot deal with, I'll clean up, otherwise, I really don't bother to much with it.

I get really stressed about things that I feel I should do - like work that I take home, or cleaning my house. I feel that things like showering are a selfish use of time & have lower priority. I get so anxious about getting things done that I freeze & don't get anything done. Showering daily seems excessive to me anyway - I don't really get sweaty so it takes a few days before I need a shower.

 

[SignOfLazarus]

Some of these things can be paired with each other or with other events in your day/week to make them more intuitive. How often i do these tasks really depends on how I am feeling in terms of stress and physically, how busy I am and the time of year, so I guess I would just make some commentary and maybe that could be helpful.

Clean & floss teeth

Do this when you get up and before you go to bed. That way those actions can prompt you to take care of your teeth. You can put a reminder on your bed room door. If you didn't take a shower that day you can wash your face as well.

Shower
Wash hair
Shave (underarms & legs)

Honestly, the average person, doing average things every day, doesn't need to shower every day. If it is easier to keep that routine, however, you might just want to do that. Some people find that every other day is more difficult to keep track of than every day.
If you have a calendar, say on the back of your bedroom door, you can say you will shower on every even date/odd date if you like.
Shave when you feel it is uncomfortable. Otherwise don't.

Wash clothes, bedding & towels

I try to do this around once a week. The bedding I like to do every other week and I would rather not clean all the clothes I wear every week. So I have more than one sheet set and several towels.

Wash dishes
Collect mail &
Grocery shop
Plan menu
Cook meals
Clean bathroom
? Any other household chores

I try to do things as I go, a little bit every day. I live with roommates but the chores I am responsible for I try to do a little every day. So, I wipe down the kitchen counters every day, check on the dishes in the dishwasher, wipe the stove or microwave, etc. It's about ten to fifteen minutes.
My suggestion for dishes is to either wash them as you use them or rinse them very well and then wash them a couple times a day- you don't want things to build up, that is when they become ovewhelming. Same for the bathroom- when ever you take a shower you can wipe the bath/shower floor and use a wipe to wipe the counter, top of the toilet, every couple of days wipe the mirror, etc. Then it doesn't get really bad and you are doing maybe five to ten minutes every day/every other day.
You will likely have to sweep/mop the floor and clean the toilet once a week, every other week but the whole bathroom will be much less work.
That's just how I deal with things.

As for meals- you can cook a bit more than you would normally, put it in a container and then have a couple leftovers, which makes it easier for me when I am able to cook. If it is easier for you to shop on the same day every week, try picking a time when it is less crowded.

Sweep/Mop floors
Put out rubbish
sort paperwork

These would generally be as needed. Is there a rubbish/trash day or a large receptacle? When your trash is full you can put it out as you are leaving. when your floors look dirty take care of them on a day that is less busy. Sort your paper work when you have a lot of it- maybe have a shoe box or folder that you put it in until it is a bit full.


I hope some of this was a bit helpful. I've actually been falling behind myself lately but these are some of the strategies I use when I am able.

 

[red_dog]

Do this when you get up and before you go to bed. That way those actions can prompt you to take care of your teeth. You can put a reminder on your bed room door. If you didn't take a shower that day you can wash your face as well

I had thought I should clean my teeth after breakfast - but am usually in a rush to get to work by then so skip it - perhaps cleaning as soon as I get up would be better. Washing my face on days I don't shower seems a good idea.

Shave when you feel it is uncomfortable. Otherwise don't

I often shave cause I feel that other people might notice and think badly of me if I don't shave. However I'm not sure that anyone notices or cares - so think I might not bother to shave at all.

Honestly, the average person, doing average things every day, doesn't need to shower every day. If it is easier to keep that routine, however, you might just want to do that. Some people find that every other day is more difficult to keep track of than every day. If you have a calendar, say on the back of your bedroom door, you can say you will shower on every even date/odd date if you like

I think I might try showering on certain days of the week, maybe Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday so that it is easier to remember.

The bedding I like to do every other week and I would rather not clean all the clothes I wear every week. So I have more than one sheet set and several towels.

Unfortunately I only have 2 work uniforms and I work 5 days a week, so I have to wash them at least twice a week. I have asked to get more uniforms, so I don't need to wash so frequently, but it hasn't happened yet. I usually add other clothes, sheets & towels into my work wash to make up a full load. In the climate I live it the sun is very harsh, so I try not to have my clothes hanging outside during the day - it only takes an hour or so for my clothes to dry on the line at night. Sometimes I forget to put a wash on at night and have no clean uniform to wear to work - am trying to remember to put the wash on as soon as I get home from work.

I try to do things as I go, a little bit every day. I live with roommates but the chores I am responsible for I try to do a little every day. So, I wipe down the kitchen counters every day, check on the dishes in the dishwasher, wipe the stove or microwave, etc. It's about ten to fifteen minutes.
My suggestion for dishes is to either wash them as you use them or rinse them very well and then wash them a couple times a day- you don't want things to build up, that is when they become ovewhelming. Same for the bathroom- when ever you take a shower you can wipe the bath/shower floor and use a wipe to wipe the counter, top of the toilet, every couple of days wipe the mirror, etc. Then it doesn't get really bad and you are doing maybe five to ten minutes every day/every other day.
You will likely have to sweep/mop the floor and clean the toilet once a week, every other week but the whole bathroom will be much less work.

When I lived with housemates, I was much better at keeping things clean, as I didn't think it would be fair for my housemates to have to clean up my things. Now I have a house to myself & nobody comes to visit, there is little motivation to keep things clean & tidy.

As for meals- you can cook a bit more than you would normally, put it in a container and then have a couple leftovers, which makes it easier for me when I am able to cook. If it is easier for you to shop on the same day every week, try picking a time when it is less crowded.

We have a local shop that I often pick up a few things in my lunchtime. But it is very expensive & doesn't have a good range of things, so I go to a larger supermarket 1.5hrs away about once a month for a larger shop. I do like to cook extras for leftovers and freeze them for the times when I don't feel like cooking. But at the moment the times I don't feel like cooking far outweigh the meals I have pre-prepared.

These would generally be as needed. Is there a rubbish/trash day or a large receptacle? When your trash is full you can put it out as you are leaving. when your floors look dirty take care of them on a day that is less busy

Ants are taking over my rubbish bin & it seems to need emptying even when it isn't full, just to get the ants out of the kitchen. Floors get dirty & I feel it is too much effort to clean them up

Sort your paper work when you have a lot of it- maybe have a shoe box or folder that you put it in until it is a bit full.

I'll have to get a box to put it in till ready to sort & ensure I regularly sort it in to my folder.

I hope some of this was a bit helpful. I've actually been falling behind myself lately but these are some of the strategies I use when I am able

Thanks so much - very useful to have your thoughts & to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Hygiene is roughly on a daily or as-needed basis. Laundry is on Sundays because that's my only day off. Cooking is only once a day on the days I have the energy for it, the rest of the time I nibbled on sandwiches. Garbage is put outside as the inside bin gets full, and then it's put out on the road for pick-up once every week.

I do not clean, that is my husband's job. I'll straighten up a bit every few days though. Yardwork is also his job because I hate how noisy lawn mowers are. One of many reasons that summer is my least favorite season.

 

[Tom]

Shower - Daily in summer, every 1-2 days in winter
Wash hair - Whenever shower
Shave (underarms & legs) - n/a
Clean & floss teeth - Brush 2-3 times daily, floss once daily
Cut finger & toe nails - weekly
Haircut - Every two months

Wash clothes, bedding & towels - Clothes/towels 1-2 loads a day, bedding weekly
Wash dishes - once daily
Collect mail & sort paperwork - once daily
Put out rubbish - once daily
Grocery shop - wife does
Plan menu - wife does
Cook meals - once per day (diner)
Clean bathroom - weekly
Sweep/Mop floors - weekly
? Any other household chores - Pets, which generate a smaller second set of chores

Note the above is the ideal, but reality often falls short. Some priority things and hygiene (like diner, washing, brushing, etc) I manage on target but others can easily be delayed to twice the ideal interval.

 

[Ste11aeres]

Shower - Daily in summer, every 1-2 days in winter
Wash hair - Whenever shower
Shave (underarms & legs) - n/a
Clean & floss teeth - Brush 2-3 times daily, floss once daily
Cut finger & toe nails - weekly
Haircut - Every two months

Wash clothes, bedding & towels - Clothes/towels 1-2 loads a day, bedding weekly
Wash dishes - once daily
Collect mail & sort paperwork - once daily
Put out rubbish - once daily
Grocery shop - wife does
Plan menu - wife does
Cook meals - once per day (diner)
Clean bathroom - weekly
Sweep/Mop floors - weekly
? Any other household chores - Pets, which generate a smaller second set of chores

Note the above is the ideal, but reality often falls short. Some priority things and hygiene (like diner, washing, brushing, etc) I manage on target but others can easily be delayed to twice the ideal interval.

Hair really doesn't need to be washed daily.

 

[Ste11aeres]

How frequently do you do the tasks below, and how long does each take you?
Shower daily. ten minutes if not washing hair
Wash hair a few times a week
Shave (underarms & legs) TMI requested
Clean & floss teeth supposedly every day
Cut finger & toe nails
Any other hygiene tasks

Wash clothes, bedding & towels sporadically
Wash dishes depends
Collect mail & sort paperwork
Put out rubbish once a week
Grocery shop sporadically
Plan menu spontaneous in regards to cooking.
Cook meals depends
Clean bathroom depends
Sweep/Mop floors when I decide to keep my dog from eating crumbs off the floor
? Any other household chores two hours daily walking dog, rain or shine

Maybe I'm not the best person to ask about maintaining a schedule for household tasks

 

[Ste11aeres]

Washing my face on days I don't shower seems a good idea.

No. It's bad for your face and bad for your face's skin. In fact, washing/showering/bathing is not great for one's skin; the main reason we need to do it is to eliminate certain smells, for social reasons.

I often shave cause I feel that other people might notice and think badly of me if I don't shave. However I'm not sure that anyone notices or cares - so think I might not bother to shave at all.

(depending on the setting. Don't show up to a job interview unshaven!)...The unshaven look is kind of fashionable nowadays. Some guys look good unshaven, some look lousy. It depends on your face. If you are in the first group, people won't mind if you don't shave; they might think it was a fashion choice.

 

[Tom]

Hair really doesn't need to be washed daily.

Might depend on type hair you have, etc. I know my wife doesn't wash her hair daily. Mine is oily and very short. Washing hair takes 3 seconds and drying 2 and I don't really care about it much.

 

[Harrison]

Shower - twice a day
Wash hair - every two days
Shave (underarms) - Yep, once a month. I hate underarm hair.
Clean & floss teeth - twice a day
Cut finger & toe nails - once a week
Facial shave - every two days

Wash clothes, bedding & towels - every three days
Wash dishes - as soon as used
Collect mail & sort paperwork - daily
Put out rubbish - daily
Grocery shop - weekly
Plan menu - never
Cook meals - once a week, maybe twice
Clean bathroom - weekly
Sweep/Mop floors - weekly
Steam clean my shower - monthly

 

[Structrix]

Wow, I have like no routine for chores. No wonder I feel like my house is constantly a disaster.