Tip 18    With the help of family members, identify time wasters at home

Solicit the cooperation of the entire family and ask them to come up with potential sources of time wasters.  Here’s a handful:

• miscommunication
• misplaced objects and personal effects
• documents and papers not filed
• too many magazines and CDs strewn about
• mistakes
• indecision
• inefficient use of family vehicles
• too much TV viewing
• different meal times
• non-adherence to curfew rules
• friends who hang around indefinitely

Tip # 19    Divide and delegate house chores

Obviously you can’t do it all.  So it’s time for a strategy: plan a nice dinner for your family on one long weekend, and tell them in advance that you have something to announce.  Cook them a special dish or two and whip up a dessert that everyone will adore. 

At the end of the meal, tell them that you want to make some changes at home.  Say that you’ve been procrastinating in doing some important chores around the house because you lack their support. 

Bring up your divide and delegate plan, ask them for suggestions, and get everyone’s commitment.  Your concrete, well laid-out plan will get you the results you want.