In my college apartments, I loathed the weekly chore swap. I would often lose track of which task I had been assigned — or forget to do it all together. Chore charts are often the default division of labor in shared spaces, but they don’t necessarily make the most sense. Cleaning is a habit, and you’re more likely to remember to do the same task you’ve been doing for weeks or months.

Taking on a set responsibility also encourages a stronger sense of ownership. If a job around the kitchen isn’t getting done, it makes it easier to sit down and discuss why that is and what can be done to remedy the situation.