The Happiness Project: Fourteen tips to avoid nagging

I’m mostly posting this to save it for myself. I’m a control freak, I don’t hand out tasks because I want them done my way, which means I nag when they aren’t done or not done ‘correctly.’

In marriage, or any partnership, chores are a huge source of conflict. How do you get your sweetheart to hold up his or her end, without nagging?

One of my best friends from college has a very radical solution: she and her husband don’t assign. That’s right. They never say, “Get me a diaper,” “The trash needs to go out,” etc. This only works because neither one of them is a slacker, but still — what a tactic! And they have three children!

This is something to strive for. But even if we can’t reach that point, most of us could cut back on the nagging. Here are some strategies that have worked for me:

1. It’s annoying to hear a hectoring voice, so suggest tasks without words. When the Big Man needs a prescription filled, he puts his empty medicine bottle on the bathroom counter. Then I know to get it re-filled.

2. If you need to voice a reminder, limit yourself to one word. Instead of barking out, “Now remember, I’ve told you a dozen times, stop off at the grocery store, we need milk, if you forget, you’re going right back out!” Instead, call out, “Grocery store!” or “Milk!”

Read the rest here

UPDATE: Here’s another good one from Zen Habits – “How Can You Take More Personal Responsibility?“

Good Stuff

Because yesterday was pretty rough…

+ my sister made lemon bars
+ bunk cuddles
+ heart 2 hearts
+ 3 day weekend
+ finally made an appointment
+ pool is open!