chores: accountability

I would like an online solution for being accountable for doing chores. Not a site where I have to pay $5 A month to be given token for completing chores though!

Chores are the most important thing for me right now, and I need a way to be accountable to myself.

I have tried adapting Optimism Online - a program for mood tracking - but it does not work, because Optimism Online only makes sense for daily tracking, and not for tracking of, say, laundry, which is, ideally, done weekly.

I need to do, on a regular basis:

- oil change, once a quarter or so
- cat litter, daily
- Retin-A, nightly
- sunscreen, daily (morningly )
- laundry, weekly, and yes that includes folding and putting away!!!
- medication refill at Target, once a quarter
- dishwasher (I live alone, so probably once every three-four days)
- prep for cleaners (they come once every two weeks and do vacuuming and bath/kitchen cleaning so I need to clear the area for them to work)
- sort through mail (at least once a week - I do check the mail briefly for urgent things and put the rest in a pile)
- take out recycling - every several days
- declutter and take stuff to Goodwill - I want to do this little by little, every weekend

Also, I need to put something in place to make sure I return items I buy from places that have a limited return policy, such as ross or Nordstrom rack - try things on (clothes/shoes) and return within 30 days if they do not fit. Nordstrom rack sends receipts via email, so it is convenient, but Ross only gives paper receipts, so I need to make sure I do not lose them.

Likewise, library books or audio books need to be returned on time.

Also, though these are not chores, but I want to track writing-related work and to track physical exercise. For the latter, I am getting a FitBit flex band recommended by the GP - supposedly it will track steps but I am not sure it will be useful for biking/swimming - I will find out. It will also track hours slept.

What would be the best system to help me be accountable and on schedule? should I combine, say, calendar reminders and an online spreadsheet?

Thanks.

hamster, I have had good luck with a notebook size monthly calendar for my day to week type of activities. I use the google calendar for recurring events like meetings and such because it sends me email reminders..........D.

oh, I love google calendar. I dislike paper though. I will work with the calendar - a great idea. Did not occur to me to schedule chores via calendar, but heck - if it works for appointments, it would work with chores...

While working I would do a few loads during the week after work.. I refuse to give up weekends to wash clothes .

When you collect your mail.. Immediately take out the BS and throw away right then.

Use synthetic Oil in your car much better and last damn near twice as long mileage wise.

During the week while your doing a load of wash,, Pull out what clothes you will wear the next day.. While doing so if you come across some clothing you haven't worn in a long while , Toss it in a bag hanging on the back of your door, keep adding things nightly or every few days. Soon you will have a bag full of clothing to donate and it wasn't a real chore to do so.

as for returns .. Set alarms on your phone for 1 week from purchase... By then you have mostly likely tried the item on ..it will fit or it wont.. Staple the reciept the the tags that hang off new clothes .. Can't lose them that way.

again use your phone for alarms to return books or audio to Library.

This is just me , what I would do if i had your list

Walk in the door with mail , sort it , toss it or keep the bills.
Gather clothes for a load to wash and dry, get thoses started .
Feed kitties and go clean there litter box.
Pick out clothing for the next day. look for something to donate
Put clothes in dryer
Eat dinner , exercise, relax... whatever
Take out dried clothes and hang or fold then .. Takes only a few mins. I promise.
Decide what clothes your wearing the next day and have them ready to go.
Right before bedtime set out your skin creams for morning

I can tell you for a fact that if you include all the "actual time spend" doing these thing take less than one hour.

Use your timer function on your phone Hammy

Seriously this is going to free up a lot of time for your weekends to be fun not labor intensive.

I have a bunch of other tips if your interested

Christina - I get oil changes done at the dealership. This is what my ex husband used to do and he swore by it. He also swore by:

- using Chevron and the highest grade for gas
- using techron for Chevron (I asked the guy at the gas station and the guy told me to use Techron every quarter)

The car is a 1996 infiniti G20 (the compact, low end Infiniti). Ex had a 1993 infiniti G20 himself until it was totaled in 2010. It did last that long. Way over 200K!!! So I do not know whether his rules (oil change at dealership + the priciest gas) really helped him to drive his car for so long. It sure is pricey so I do not know whether that's right...

...but do not want to take risks either - I drove my car from 2008 to 2009 using his rules, and then he drove this car from 2010 through 2012 using his standards as well, and - knock on wood - it is working fine.

So I do not know.

Sorry for being tangential - I wanted to ask whether using a synthetic oil is something I ask of the dealership, or...?

Thanks. Let me get to the other tips tomorrow, they sure sound great, since I know that you are the queen of having the house in order!!

I made my chores into a "game", divided them into categories and put them on a large poster board like a collage (but each "area" corresponded to a number/name and found an 8-sided die and I'd roll the die each morning and then work in that category for at least 30 minutes :-)

i basically use a paper calender and make a two month plan for myself then do it again evey other month. if i have to add or subtract something, i just do that.