6 Household Tasks You Can Outsource to Help Keep the Peace at Home
For many couples today, both partners work long hours and make equal financial contributions to their household. So whose job is it to handle the cooking, cleaning and other household tasks?
Figuring out the best way to divide these responsibilities can be a source of stress. And often, neither partner has the time or energy to tackle their share of the to-do list. But taking advantage of apps and services for meal prep, laundry and other must-dos can boost your mood, ease tension with your partner and give you more time to do the things you love.
Here are six tasks you can easily outsource, plus the best app or service to help you get the job done.
1. Prepping Fresh, Healthy Meals
Getting dinner on the table every night can be tough, especially if you and your partner aren’t too fond of cooking. Instead of spending your Sunday planning the weekly menu, or arguing over who’s going to do the grocery shopping, a meal kit like Blue Apron can be a huge help. It delivers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipe instructions for fast and easy meals throughout the week — taking extra planning out of your evenings, when you need more time to unwind after work.
2. Housecleaning
Some weekend chores may be inevitable. But if you find that keeping up with housecleaning is a source of stress, hiring help may be a smart investment, and could be more affordable than you think. An app like TIDY can help. You can schedule a house cleaning and customize your cleaning priorities — so you only pay for the services you really need help with.
3. Laundry and Dry Cleaning
After a busy work week, sometimes the last thing you feel like doing is laundry. And if your local dry cleaner has limited hours, you may not have time to drop off or pick up dry cleaning around your work schedule. With an app like Delivery, you can find local laundry or dry cleaning services that pick up dirty laundry, clean it and bring it back to you.
4. Home Repairs and Improvement Projects
It’s easy to keep putting off home projects when you and your partner both work long hours. A service like Thumbtack can match you with qualified local painters, landscapers, contractors and more. Pick an expert who meets your needs, and let them help you cross these projects off your to-do list for good.
5. Odd Jobs and Miscellaneous Tasks
Mounting a TV on the wall or assembling furniture isn’t just time-consuming. For many couples, these frustrating tasks can be fraught with tension. Avoid the aggravation with an app like TaskRabbit, which allows you to outsource odd jobs, big and small, to local folks who are qualified and fully vetted. Choose your “Tasker” based on the hourly rate that matches your budget, and chat with them directly to make a plan that works for your schedule.
6. Dog Walking and Pet Care
Sometimes, a hectic work week can mean less time for you and your partner to tend to your pup. Instead of running home in between meetings or asking your friend to dog-sit again, try a pet care service like Rover. The site matches you with fully vetted local dog walkers and sitters who have been reviewed by other Rover users — so you can pick someone you feel great about.
As your work and home life blend together more and more, it’s smart to seek out help when you need it most. By taking some extra work off your plate, you and your partner will both feel happier and less stressed.
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This article originally appeared on the MetLife blog and can be seen here.