A honey do list is a list of chores or household repairs that one spouse may make for another. Almost invariably, it is the female who makes up this list for her husband or partner. The list can either be a helpful reminder of things that need to get done, or a constant drain on a person’s free time. Though the title of the list is endearing, people aren’t always sweetly interested in having tasks assigned to them.
It is true that a honey do list can help a couple decide what time they need to spend on basic work around or for the home. If you want to avoid your husband or spouse thinking you’ve simply assigned them chores, you can make the list together. As keepers of a home, particularly one you own, there are certain standard maintenance things that need to go on the list in order to keep a house maintained properly. These can include things like cleaning fireplaces or gutters once yearly, making small easy repairs, painting periodically, replacing weather stripping as needed, and replacing filters in heaters or air conditioners.
Honey do lists can be more extensive when a spouse is very good at home repair or home maintenance, or it can be a way of reminding the spouse to call people to make repairs that are above and beyond his capacity. If you rent a home, there are still things that can go on the list like making sure batteries in smoke detectors are replaced twice a year, calling the landlord if there are any small needed repairs, and perhaps keeping the lawn mowed or the yard weeded.
For those caring for homes, you can even find examples of honey do lists online, although what things need to be on your list are likely to vary considerably. If the list is becoming very extensive, it can help to set time limits by which certain tasks are to be completed. It doesn’t help to get the pilot on the heater relit two months after you need it. You can create time sensitive to do lists and have a separate section of to do items that aren’t time sensitive.
A honey do list can become a source of contention between two spouses. Especially if one spouse does the majority of household chores and housework, that spouse may be resentful if a few things on the list get ignored repeatedly. Again it helps to create these lists together if there are feelings that one person is being too bossy, and it’s also important to remember that a honey do list can be a good way of taking care of your home so that small problems don’t become huge problems when they’re ignored.
