Someone else can do the dishes tonight. How about having someone pitch in to do the laundry. The kids can exercise by walking the dog and taking out the trash.
How about that day job? Lunch at your desk? For this month, how about letting someone else volunteer for the extra workload.
Speaking of volunteering, don't get swamped by taking on too much at school events or with your child's sports teams. They can live without you for a month, Or pass out the responsibilities. Delegate others to do all those little time-consuming chores that you usually take care of.
A few things I delegated this month so far:
Husband took care of washing my car.
Son #3 was assigned to cleaning up the fallen branches out of the backyard. (dozens after this winter)
Son #2 bought pizza for dinner for everyone Wednesday night.
Husband did grocery shopping from my list.
Laura Clipson, L. Diane Wolfe, Sabina Leybold, Ann Bennett, and Shantala are my Dragon Delegates and I couldn't keep up without them.
Have you delegated some responsibilities during April? What are you doing to make it all workable for you? Any chores you can delegate to someone else?
yeah thinking of delegating cooking responsibilities...just hate that! :(
ReplyDeleteI much prefer to eat something I haven't cooked.
DeleteJust found out about this challenge and would love to have participated. If you do it again will you let me know! Following you everywhere now...
ReplyDeleteEvery April we dive into the challenge. There will be lots of announcements all over. Would love to have you.
DeleteI think someone delegated to me lol.
ReplyDeleteThat happened to me too. I'm trying to spread out the pain.
DeleteKinda rough to delegate when you live alone and are retired, lol. Any volunteers for yard work?
ReplyDeleteI don't live alone but my kids are all working as does my husband so I'm stuck with most of the yard work too. Hope to delegate the pool work to one of the boys this year.
DeleteI agree! Delegation is the key to peace of mind..
ReplyDeleteI'm doing more delegation for our Easter dinner tomorrow.
DeleteI should have thought of that. So many of us get delegated to.
ReplyDeleteAt work I have issues delegating, has a big part due to trust. I work a crap job with many 18 year olds (I'm 30) and their work ethic and lack of detail makes it difficult for me to trust them to do something on the to do list, so I generally have them stick with one task as I complete the others. It does cause stressful days however and I'm trying to get better.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad how many young people are able to take on responsibility. Makes it tough for you.
DeleteGood tip, Susan,
ReplyDeleteMy job taught me how to delegate.
Got some helpers who are making the rounds too.
Being a parent has taught me how to delegate.
DeleteI definitely have trouble delegating at times...I can definitely be kind of a control freak when it comes down to it. Thanks for another great post!
ReplyDeleteI remind myself I don't have to do it all.
DeleteI'm famous for not delegating. As a matter of fact, my husband just told me this morning that if he let me, I would just do everything.
ReplyDeleteI wish my husband wouldn't let me do as much. Treasure that guy.
DeleteI don't mow the lawn, shovel the snow, clean the car or buy groceries, for example. My husband does all of that. I clean the house and I cook. Both my husband and I do the laundry.
ReplyDeletePrecious Monsters
Clone that guy. I wish my husband would do some of that.
DeleteWe delegate by my wife telling me what she needs me to do and by me doing it. It works for us.
ReplyDeleteToday I have a Dull Surprise for you!
D is for Dull Surprise!
Sounds like a perfect arrangement.
DeleteIt's impossible for one person to do everything and delegating is good. makes everybody responsible. Working in groups for presentations is an efficient teacher for task delegation.
ReplyDeleteDelegation is great for building responsibility. I should have mentioned that.
DeleteWe start 'delegating' picking up toys here at the daycare at least by 18 months. There's no way I'd pick up all of them myself haha Can you say Tornado??
ReplyDeleteAll parents should do that and not expect daycare to teach them.
DeleteMy kids are grown and gone and my little dog doesn't do much in the help department. But my hubby is excellent at helping around the house! Lucky me! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to train my husband to be more helpful. Old dogs.
DeleteOh yes, Susan. I tried to do it all in the first 2 days and I realized that I can't possibly keep it up for the whole month without going crazy. Delegated most of the dishes and some of the cooking prep and all of the laundry to hubby dearest. He is extremely supportive. I am so thankful for that. :)
ReplyDelete*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
What a guy? I sent my husband to do some shopping and I've been making a lot of quick salads for meals.
DeleteI delegated at my day job this month. Mostly because I had an abundance of coworkers in the kitchen with me and a few needed their hours so I gladly volunteered mine. The other reason is because in May I will have a shortage so I want to relax now! It's just a happy coincidence this all happened during the challenge.
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
You not only delegate, you plan ahead.
DeleteI just told my hubby-Owning the computer this month! I am still doing what I need to do but not much else:) I just hope my ADHD hubby doesn't claim the computer one eve after I come home from work
ReplyDeleteYou might have to fight him off so you get it all for yourself.
DeleteAnd the difference between delegating and being bossy is? LOL Just kidding. You look so calm in your photo. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteHey, bossy is allowed. And I am a very calm, bossy person.
DeleteHard to delegate sometimes ... OCD maybe... but when the dishes get put into the dishwasher in a way diametrically opposed to my way, I get darned cross. Great post thank you!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I always rearrange the dishwasher too. You'd think they'd learn to do it my way.
DeleteDelegating is a skill. It was easier to do it myself comes to mind. It is hard to drop this line of thinking.
ReplyDeleteMy mother always said my great grandmother had a talent for getting the most out of a maid. I think it is because she was a mountain woman who had nine kids. When life gave her a break in the form of a maid late in life, she had a lost of practice in sizing up a person's contribution. Anyone with children knows what I mean.
Wow, nine kids. Thought I was busy with six. That does take a lot of special talents.
DeleteDelegating can be so hard, especially if you're a perfectionist like I can be sometimes, lol. But I'm definitely happy when I can delegate tasks and get some much needed help!!!
ReplyDeleteWe all need some help now and then.
DeleteO yep I am all in favour of delegating anything and everything. . . . I will be explaining to to the family later . . . . I think they might hit me though but its OK I will mention your name
ReplyDeleteDefinitely use my name. That will provide you with the needed authority to be a delegating dictator.
DeleteI'm a big believer in delegating though there are cases when I have a difficult time doing. I'm thankful that we have a large enough A to Z Team so that duties can be delegated among us. No one person could keep up with everything to do here.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Wrote By Rote
How did you do all this before you formed the team?
DeleteThe first year with less than 100 participants I was just figuring things out. The second year when I suspected it would all get big I got together a team and it's been that way ever since.
DeleteLee
That is actually very good advice there!!! We all could do with a bit of delegating from time to time.
ReplyDeletesumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.com
Yeah, spread out the work. There's enough for everyone.
DeleteMy poor husband gets me delegating everything to him already. I think he'd go on strike if I delegated anymore, hehe.
ReplyDeleteCait @ Click's Clan
I give my husband little bits at a time so he doesn't notice.
DeleteI'm not delegating since don't have too much to do chore wise and can "manage" but did take yesterday off from work and plan to take at least another Friday off (I have lots of PTO to use up this year) and I spent 4 hours on blogs, LOL, but visited a lot of people so if I don't have a chance to visit on some days, I thought that would kind of even out :)
ReplyDeletebetty
You are a trooper. That's a lot of hours blogging.
DeleteI learned delegation real fast as both a co-host and with the IWSG. I can't do it all.
ReplyDeleteYou nearly do it all. This Tuesday will tell.
DeleteI was the delegated upon person for decades. Now I have switched places.
ReplyDeleteSomeone had to be king, I mean queen.
DeleteYes! My husband is make the morning coffee and delivering it to me at my desk!
ReplyDeleteOh, that guy needs to give lessons to some other spouses.
DeleteCould someone think of a good subject that starts with a 'Z' for my blog,(The Chinese Quest)?
ReplyDeleteI had enough trouble coming up with my own.
DeleteGood advice. I have time on my hands at the moment so not too much need for delegating.
ReplyDeleteTime? You could sell that for a lot of money.
DeleteI would like to delegate lots and lots of things.
ReplyDeleteStart little and then go big.
DeleteThis is good advice that I should follow more often. At least I pulled spaghetti sauce out of the freezer for tonight's dinner, and am repurposing some of my extant writing that's never appeared on my blog before. So I guess that's a bit of delegating to myself to make life easier through the Challenge!
ReplyDeletehttp://shrinkrapped.com/
LOL. Don't know if it counts if you delegate to yourself. I've been doing the meals ahead myself this week.
DeleteI'm the one home the most so my parents usually delegate me to do a lot of things around the house. It's hard for me to delegate at times just because I get used to doing certain things a certain way, but there are definitely times when I just have to delegate a task to someone else : )
ReplyDeleteYour parents are so lucky to have you. Hope you get to pass it on sometimes.
Deleteooooo That's a wonderful idea! ... but I have to delegate jobs. Unfortunately I'm disabled, and I don't bend all the way like normal people. My granddaughter comes over now & then to help me, and she does floors and scouring my bathroom woo hoo love that. She vacuums too. Hubby helps too now and then with vacuuming, and brings laundry down for me so I can do it, but it all works out. :) HAPPY EASTER.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I'm also following you now. Very nice to meet you. I hope you find time to stop by and follow me to under my linky followers in my side bar. THANKS BUNCHES.
DeleteHappy Easter to you, Marie. Sounds like you have a wonderful granddaughter. I need one of those.
DeleteI delegated making banners for my A to Z Challenge to my talented son. I have more of a volunteer crew of two, husband and son here at home. They just do stuff that needs to be done without me thinking about it. It's pretty amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing. Mine are good if I ask them but they seldom spot what needs doing by themselves.
DeleteFirst time I'm using the dishwasher in months - I'm shameless!
ReplyDeleteRan the dishwasher twice today already. Leftovers for the next three meals. That will help.
DeleteDelegating requires a person to be humble enough to recognize hers is not the only way to do a thing. I was not always that person!
ReplyDeleteOuch. It's hard to give up some of the control at times. Been there and still am sometimes.
DeleteLots of delegating in the home. Loving husbands to loving wife. It all depends who has the stronger voice. My posting is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://imagery77.blogspot.com/2015/04/d.html
Hank
Sounds like a good team effort.
DeleteWell done Susan - I need a family to delegate to!! Still I get on with things .. and some things can quietly get left for now - some things definitely will be dusty as the days go on .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI know you can do it all yourself, Hilary. Especially now with your bionic hip that you healed from like a super woman.
DeleteFor me D means Dreams and Destiny. Both are really critical and important in life. Please do visit. I hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt was silly yet I forgot to update last prompt. For me C was Child. It's a fictional short story. Please visit it too.
http://bluesomeheart.blogspot.in/search/label/A-Z%20challenge
Beautiful essay about dreams and how important they are.
DeleteTW hates to delegate cos she thinks she’s the only one who can do the job right. Me, I delegate everything.
ReplyDeleteLove this - I try to delegate to my partner all the time, only, he takes so long to do what I've asked him, I normally end up doing it anyway!
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me sometimes too. I shouldn't give it as it only encourages my slackers to do it next time.
DeleteI can't delegate anything. What a I do is say, "It's that time of year again, so I'm going to be busy on the computer more. And leave me alone when I am." They understand. Then they bellyache and whine, then they understand, then they get pissy and pout. Then they understand....and so on and so on until May. But they get over it.
ReplyDeleteLife & Faith in Caneyhead
I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
A to Z Challenge
Great attitude. They're just going to have to wait for us to emerge from the blogging den.
DeleteMan, I need to hire some delegate, but I don't have any real excuses to need them. hehe
ReplyDeleteYeah. I need to delegate.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I can get a ghost writer!
Heather
Delegating, I've been getting lessons in this at work this week about it. Timely word choice!
ReplyDeleteAha! Giving up control... So tough. I try to delegate stuff, doesn't work most times, but am learning the hard way that: there's only so much anyone can do. Even Wonder Woman.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Aha! Giving up control... So tough. I try to delegate stuff, doesn't work most times, but am learning the hard way that: there's only so much anyone can do. Even Wonder Woman.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Susan, I love the word Delegate. It's one of my favorites and one I use without any problem. Delegate to me and I'll get it done. I'll delegate to you because I know you are worthy. It's a great word.
ReplyDelete