Does Task Sharing Help To Make Stronger Families?

My wife always says it, and now my three-year-old says it too: "We're a team." And they're right. Taking that one message into every day helps me deal with whatever obstacles may lie ahead—especially when both kids are sick and we haven't slept for three days. 👀

The Power of Shared Responsibilities

Our family has daily tasks that, when done, help keep our lives running a little smoother. We have regular tasks like cleaning and food shopping, as well as one-off tasks such as power-washing the driveway (I wish it were one-off!). But when tasks pile up, what starts out as something simple or nice to do can become a source of friction that eventually leads to an argument.

Since the birth of our second child almost seven weeks ago, I’ve realized that having a strong and happy family life is just as much about collaboration as it is about love and support. Right now, our newborn daughter has colic, and as any parent who has experienced colic knows, this means a lot of time with the baby screaming at the top of her lungs—and a lot more time in Mammy and Daddy’s arms. For the next few weeks and months 😭, my wife and I know that we have many sleepless nights ahead of us. By identifying the needs of our family and household, we’re making sure that things still get done—so our daughter doesn’t end up at creche with no shoes or socks on.

For me personally, identifying what needs to be done and doing it makes me feel like my family can depend on me. If my wife or I have a sleepless night, at least we both know that the rest of our family and home are looked after.

Shared tasks help to:

• Reduce Stress: Spreading out tasks and responsibilities prevents any one member of our family from feeling overwhelmed or taken for granted.
• Improve Communication: Discussing and organising our tasks helps us stay on the same page as a couple and a team.
• Increase Accountability: When our family's tasks are assigned and tracked, they’re more likely to get done. To borrow a phrase from business life: "What gets measured, gets managed."
• Strengthen Our Family Unit: Working together helps develop a sense of teamwork and shared achievement.

How Family Folder Helps Us Stay Organised

Over the past twelve months while I was creating Family Folder, my wife was pregnant with our second daughter. I obviously didn’t know that she would have colic and that we wouldn’t sleep for five straight weeks, but strangely, this web app I’ve built has helped. With a newborn, there are a million new things to do—on top of the already million things we do to keep our lives running.

My wife and I have been using Family Folder to:

• Manage shopping lists
• Track doctor appointments
• Store important documents like birth certificates
• Plan a holiday (hopefully!)

If you decide to give Family Folder a try, I hope it helps your family the way it’s helping ours.

Start Your First Shared Task List Today

Ready to experience the benefits of shared tasks in your family? Try Family Folder free for 30 days and create your first shared task list. Start small—assign a few daily or weekly responsibilities—and watch as your family becomes more organised and connected.