Time limit/allocation for chores?

Question

For the sake of a more definitive question, I define chores as domestic tasks that are recurring, generally unenjoyable and have no hard datelines. The conditions are such that available manpower is inelastic. Are there any productivity studies/theory that advocate a reasonable amount of time to be allocated for such activities for achieving best results? As opposed to aiming to complete individual tasks.

The motivation is that since there is no end in sight, it might be better to simply set aside a fixed fraction of available time and call it a week (day)

Answer 1

Ok, this answer is reaching a bit but you've reminded me of this short piece: Life is Maintenance. It's written from and for a stay-at-home-mom point-of-view, and it's easy, for me at least, to dismiss or forget about...I'm so busy after all. ;-) But I think there's a valuable idea within it: that while many would agree that chores are "generally unenjoyable", that doesn't necessarily make it wholly true and could have something to do with the attitude that chores are approached with. There's an element of valuing what we have by caring it for it (gratefully, dare I say) and we can also honor other with what we do (as oblivious as they may be!). But, yes, we also get to decide, hopefully honestly, what balance means to us and what chunk of our lives such activities take up.

There's a zen saying: "Before enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water."