# The Fight That Never Ends
A 2023 study by the Pew Research Center found that the division of household chores is the #2 source of conflict in relationships (behind finances). The problem isn't laziness—it's perception. Each partner genuinely believes they do more than their fair share. Psychologists call this 'egocentric bias': we vividly remember our own contributions but barely notice our partner's. Without an objective record, every conversation becomes a 'he said, she said' of invisible labor.
# The Sunday Ritual
The family that inspired this article—two parents, two teenagers—was stuck in a weekly cycle of arguments about dishes, laundry, and garbage. Their solution: every Sunday at breakfast, they open their 'Chore Jar' and tap 'Allocate.' The system distributes 12 weekly tasks across 4 members in under 3 seconds. Each person's phone shows their assignments. No negotiation, no guilt, no ambiguity. The entire interaction takes less time than pouring a cup of coffee.
# Why Randomness Feels Fair
Here's the counterintuitive truth: people perceive random allocation as fairer than human-chosen allocation, even when the human choice is objectively more balanced. This is because randomness removes intent. When Mom assigns the bins to the teenager, it feels like punishment. When the jar assigns the bins, it's just... the jar. The system absorbs the resentment that would otherwise land on a person. Over time, randomness averages out perfectly—everyone gets the 'bad' chores equally.
# The Visible Ledger
One of the most powerful effects of digital allocation is the paper trail. After 12 weeks, the family could see that Dad had done bins 4 times, dishes 3 times, and laundry 5 times. Mom's distribution was similar. The data killed the 'I always do everything' argument dead—because both could see, in black and white, that the system was fair. The emotional temperature of chore conversations dropped from 'heated argument' to 'check the app.'
# Gamification: The Secret Weapon
The teenagers in this family responded to something the parents didn't expect: XP points. Every completed chore earns experience points toward leveling up. The 14-year-old became competitive about it—racing to complete tasks to beat her brother's weekly XP total. What was once a battleground became a game. The parents reported that for the first time in years, the dishwasher was being unloaded without being asked. Not because of discipline, but because of points.
# Setting Up Your Own Chore Jar
Getting started takes 5 minutes: 1) Create a new jar and set the mode to 'Task Allocation'. 2) Add your recurring chores as ideas—be specific ('Vacuum living room' not just 'Clean'). 3) Invite your household members via the share code. 4) Set how many tasks each person should get. 5) Pick your allocation day (Sunday works well) and make it a ritual. After 4 weeks, you'll wonder how you ever did it the old way.
Q&A
What is Task Allocation mode?
It's a jar mode that randomly distributes tasks among members instead of picking a single item. Each person sees their assigned tasks for the week in one clear list.
How does the allocation work?
The admin sets how many tasks each person gets, and the system randomly assigns that number of tasks to each member from the available pool. Every idea has an equal chance of being assigned to anyone — it's fair and unbiased.
What if someone doesn't do their assigned task?
The admin can deallocate unfinished tasks and re-run the allocation. Members can also mark completed tasks to move them to Events, giving the group a visible record of what's been done.
Related Articles
Gamifying Home Life: How XP, Streaks, and Randomness Make Adulting Fun
Chores, meal prep, fitness—adulting is boring by design. Here's how game mechanics can turn your least favourite responsibilities into surprisingly engaging rituals.
7 min readThe Psychology Behind Decision Fatigue (And How We Solve It)
35,000 decisions a day. No wonder you can't pick a restaurant by 7pm. Here's the neuroscience behind why your brain checks out—and the design principles we use to fight back.
9 min read