Share the Load: the Power of Delegating at Home

As a Black woman, you have a lot on your plate. I want to acknowledge that! And even though you may be used to working outside the home, taking care of children, and managing a household, you might feel overwhelmed — and like you’re not getting enough support from your family or partner.

It’s completely okay, even normal, to feel this way. But you deserve better. You don’t need to bear all of the burden all of the time.

That’s where delegating tasks comes in.

Delegating can feel a little scary even to think about. If you’re used to being superwoman, you might find you struggle to delegate tasks at all. It’s hard to get used to the idea that if something needs to be done, it can be done by someone else too. But it’s not just possible, it can be a lifesaver.

Delegating tasks at home, whether to a partner, kids, or other family members, helps prevent burnout. When you don’t have to do everything yourself, you’re less likely to feel stressed and overwhelmed, which means better physical and mental health. And it benefits everyone — it builds stronger relationships between you, your family, and your partner. When you share responsibilities, you’re showing them that you trust them and that you value their contributions. It’s a win for everyone.

It’s helpful to start small:

· Make a list of the tasks that you do on a regular basis, and then think about which ones could be done by someone else. For example, if you’re the one who always cooks dinner, you could ask your partner or child to set the table. It’s okay if they don’t do it perfectly or as well as you might.

• Talk to your family and partner about your plans to delegate tasks. Explain why you’re doing this. Getting their buy-in will make you more confident in asking for help.
• Be specific about what you need done, when it needs to be done by, and how you want it to turn out. For example, if you’re asking your child to help with the laundry, you could tell them to put all the towels in the washing machine sometime before lunch, and start the cycle.

It may take some time for your family members or partner to get used to taking on new responsibilities. You might get pushback. That doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong, though. Remember, you shouldn’t have to take care of everything on your own, even if it’s always been that way! You don’t need to apologize for asking family members to pitch in. Even superwoman deserves a little help.