We sometimes say that HEIMA's biggest competitor is the good old chore chart, traditionally displayed on the family fridge.
Why? Because it is the most common answer people give us when we ask them how they get things done at home and activate their family to participate in household chores and family responsibilities. Not Excel, not Trello, not other apps... Paper 📃
What makes the good old chore chart on the fridge so popular? Well, it's easy to make, visual for the whole family to see and family members get a kick out of checking something off the list. The biggest problem seems to be that it is usually a temporary solution that works great in the beginning but lacks longevity. It also takes time and effort to create and maintain which ofter falls on the same person that does most of the household work anyway.
This is why we wanted to build a digital chore chart for families that had all the great qualities of the fridge chart, but using state-of-the-art features that make it more effective and even simpler to use. Our chore chart is simple, visual and easy to navigate. It refreshes every week so you can kick the new week off with a fresh new list. Family members collect points for each checked task and can follow how each circle gets filled in as repetitions of each task get completed. Which also allows family members to share the workload and responsibility and take initiative, as they now know what needs to be done and what has already been done and when, without needing instructions or motivation from anybody else.
A quick intro for those who are new here: The HEIMA app is a chore tracker and list maker for families and households. HEIMA turns household chores into a game by giving out points for each finished chore, keeping a task log and encouraging friendly competition with a family scoreboard. Keep all of your family-related tasks, chores and lists in one place with HEIMA, including your Digital Chore Chart!
Creating a Digital Chore Chart with the HEIMA app
Open the HEIMA app on your smartphone.
Click the green circle with the "+" in the right bottom corner.
Click "Create new category". Name your category and add a description if you like.
Click "+ Add new task". Add a task name, an emoji to represent it, how many points it rewards, how often it should be completed daily, weekly (and which day of the week if you like) or monthly and who is responsible for this task.
Repeat for all the tasks you want to add to the list.
Then repeat for all the categories you want to make.
Another option for creating categories: You can also start by creating tasks, then create a category and press "Add uncategorized tasks" to add all of the tasks you like to the category at the same time.
When your digital chore chart is ready, press "x" in the upper, left corner and go back to the home screen.
Use the "categories" filter to see the categories you want to see.
You can use either the "today" or "week" view.
As you finish a task, click the circle representing it and it starts filling in the repetitions with the color of the family member who finished it.
See your weekly goal bar get filled in as you collect more points.
Now that was easy! You just made yourself a brand new Digital Chore Chart in your HEIMA app.
Example Categories and Tasks for your Digital Chore Chart
HEIMA's chore chart is a blank canvas that you can build any way you like. When starting a HEIMA household the app uses automation to create your first tasks, but you take it from there and make it your own. Here are some examples of categories and tasks that you might want to consider adding to your HEIMA household:
Kitchen Duties 🍽️
Load/Unload Dishwasher - 2 points, 5 times/week
Wipe Counters - 1 point, 7 times/week
Take Out Trash - 1 point, 3 times/week
Clean Fridge - 3 points, 1 time/month
Sweep/Mop Floor - 2 points, 2 times/week
Clean Microwave - 2 points, 1 time/week
Living Room Tidiness 🛋️
Vacuum Floor - 3 points, 2 times/week
Dust Surfaces - 2 points, 3 times/week
Organize Bookshelves - 1 point, 1 time/week
Clean Windows - 2 points, 2 times/month
Fluff and Arrange Cushions - 1 point, 3 times/week
Wipe Down Electronics - 1 point, 1 time/week
Laundry Chores 🧺
Wash Clothes - 2 points, 3 times/week
Fold and Put Away Clothes - 2 points, 3 times/week
Iron Clothes - 3 points, 1 time/week
Wash Bedding - 3 points, 1 time/week
Sort Laundry by Color - 1 point, 3 times/week
Clean Washer/Dryer - 2 points, 1 time/month
Bathroom Cleanliness 🛁
Clean Toilet - 3 points, 2 times/week
Scrub Shower - 3 points, 1 time/week
Refill Soap and Toiletries - 1 point, 2 times/week
Wipe Down Mirrors - 1 point, 2 times/week
Clean Sink and Countertop - 2 points, 3 times/week
Wash Bath Mats - 2 points, 1 time/month
Pet Care 🐾
Feed Pets - 1 point, 7 times/week
Walk Dog - 2 points, 7 times/week
Clean Litter Box - 2 points, 5 times/week
Brush Pets - 1 point, 3 times/week
Give Pets Medication - 2 points, as needed
Clean Pet Bedding - 2 points, 2 times/month
Tidy Bedroom 🛏️
Make Bed - 1 point, 7 times/week
Organize Closet - 2 points, 1 time/week
Vacuum Room - 3 points, 2 times/week
Change Bed Sheets - 3 points, 1 time/week
Dust Nightstands - 2 points, 1 time/week
Declutter Surface Areas - 1 point, 1 time/week
Garden Care 🌿
Water Plants - 1 point, 7 times/week
Mow Lawn - 3 points, 1 time/week
Weed Garden - 2 points, 2 times/week
Trim Hedges - 2 points, 1 time/month
Rake Leaves - 2 points, 2 times/month
Plant New Flowers/Plants - 3 points, as needed
Storage Organization 📦
Sort Storage Boxes - 2 points, 2 times/month
Clean Garage - 3 points, 1 time/month
Organize Tools - 2 points, 1 time/month
Label Storage Bins - 1 point, 1 time/month
Purge Unused Items - 3 points, 1 time/quarter
Clean Storage Shelves - 2 points, 1 time/month
Car Care 🚗
Wash Car - 3 points, 2 times/month
Vacuum Interior - 2 points, 2 times/month
Check Oil and Fluids - 2 points, 1 time/month
Clean Windows - 1 point, 1 time/month
Rotate Tires - 3 points, 1 time/quarter
Inspect Brakes - 3 points, 1 time/quarter
Mental Load 🧠
Plan Weekly Meals - 2 points, 1 time/week
Organize Family Schedule - 3 points, 1 time/week
Pay Bills - 3 points, 1 time/week
Research Family Activities - 2 points, 2 times/month
Update Contact Lists - 1 point, 1 time/month
Review Budget - 3 points, 1 time/month
Children's Activities 🧸
Help with Homework - 2 points, 5 times/week
Prepare School Lunches - 2 points, 5 times/week
Attend School Meetings - 3 points, 1 time/month
Organize Playdates - 2 points, 2 times/month
Wash School Uniforms - 2 points, 1 time/week
Review School Notices - 1 point, 3 times/week
By following these steps and using these examples, you can create and maintain a digital chore chart in the HEIMA app that keeps everyone in the family engaged and responsible in a simple, fun and fair way!
Happy chore charting from the HEIMA team! 🫶