Talk to Him and Identify What You Want

To deal with a lazy husband, you need to talk to him about the issue. First, decide what most bothers you about his behavior. Is it that you never have time to do anything but clean after work while he watches television? What can he do that will help get him off the lazy list? When having this conversation, stay calm and use "I statements" such as, “It is very difficult for me to get everything done and I need help because I feel stressed all the time.” Listen carefully to his responses and try to understand his point of view. If he’s overwhelmed after working all day as well, talk about hiring outside help around the house. And if he seems to be struggling with other issues such as depression or anxiety -- both of which can lead to lowered motivation -- look into professional help to deal with the root causes and get him motivated again.

Positive Reinforcement

People generally respond well to positive reinforcement, or getting good things when they do something good. Instead of yelling at your husband to get him off the couch, flip the script and offer positivity when he does get moving. Accept help whenever he offers, even if you don’t really need it, to get him in the habit of assisting. And when he does help with something, anything, thank him. Give him a hug or send him a text message if you notice he added carrots to your lunch. Let him know how much you appreciate the assistance he provides in an attempt to get him to provide more of it.

Make a List

Woman in relationships where the housework is divided more evenly have higher levels of marital satisfaction, suggests research led by Heather M. Helms, associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and published in 2010 in the "Journal of Family Psychology." To deal with a lazy husband, split up the chores with a chore sheet -- and don’t cheat by doing his duties. You can each take certain jobs or take them on certain days. At first, claim the jobs that matter most to you. If you are mostly concerned about the laundry, take that one and let him worry about tripping over things on the floor if that doesn’t bother you as much. Once he recognizes how important his contribution is, he may be more motivated to help without being asked.

Set Boundaries and Encourage Motivation

Woman are more likely to leave marriages when their husbands are not working outside the home, notes research led by sociologist Liana C. Sayer and published in the "American Journal of Sociology" in 2011. Encourage him to get motivated by setting boundaries, such as, "If you will not look for a job, you will be expected to complete the household tasks," or whatever seems reasonable in your situation. Don’t make it easy for him to be lazy by doing everything for him. Know what you will and will not do, and communicate this to him so that you both know where you stand. And if you refuse to wash his clothes because you’re busy cleaning the floors after work, eventually he might pitch in out of sheer necessity.