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So optimize away the chores?

In my case, marrying a woman who wanted to be a stay at home mom worked pretty well. I'd rather be working than doing chores, she'd rather stay home and feel productive cleaning the house, and we're both super happy.



OK, let me tell my wife to stop working and become a homemaker so I can "optimize away the chores" from my life. That sounds like a more sensible solution than working a normal amount of hours.


Both busy earning? Hire a housekeeper.


OK, it's one example. Nobody is going to brush my teeth for me, and I'm not sure why this should be the first answer rather than not working an insane amount of hours.


The personal part is actually quite small. I spent a month working in a country where the host family did all my cleaning and cooking. All I had to do was eat, clean myself, and exercise. I felt I had a vast wealth of time. I was extremely productive yet had more leisure than normal.

A stay at home spouse or a full time housekeeper is a vast multiplier. However, the former is rare/undesirable, and the latter costs a lot of money + introduces management complexity.

Still, it's worth thinking cleanly about which part of chores actually require personal effort.


I mean, sure, I think I am probably going to hire someone to cut grass next year because I hate doing it. But still. If I'm going to optimize my time it's so I can spend more time doing things I like to do or spending time with my wife, not so I can work more.




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