"Milo, there is a difference between initiative and being interested to help your wife because she asked you for help. It wouldn't sound right for a husband to say to his wife who asked for help, "I'm not interested. Can't help. Sorry".
hi, sometimes, my wife does exactly that... she gets all kan cheong and overwhelmed all the many task she gave herself. She seems so engrossed in it, I just let her be. After sometime, she got angry on why I'm slacking and not helping.
Then, I just go to her, give her a hug asking her to relax and tell me what is her plan. Why is she rushing? After which, I simply helped her prioritize and postpone the trivial stuffs. I see one stressed rodent running up and down, I'm not going to join her and be another stressed rodent rushing for nothing. I don't enjoy rushing for nothing. One can help not simply by following instructions or fulfilling your expectations. The outcome, a much more relaxed and happy wife. The same woman that had no time for me, showed me black face is much more in the mood to enjoy quality time together with me now.
Point is, don't lose focus. Enjoy each other company while living together. How to last a life time being so uptight with tasks and schedule? Don't fight over such things. If you take steps to rethink like what you have done now... Often, you will realize many things that frustrated you initially is really no big deal. Not perfect in your perspective but its okie.
Everyone has their own choice and preference on how to kill time and wind down.
Lastly, whatever tips you read and try to apply, you gotta focus on the both of you... the relationship rather than the method. Those tips you wrote, it isn't really impractical. Just needing to have the right attitude towards it, these are merely tools to help you guys have a smooth and effective communication... You need to enjoy the process. If you go through it with pain, the effectiveness will be limited or backfire.
Think about it, being clear, polite and respectful in your communication.... if you try to watch every word you say and be as politically correct, it is going to so fake and unnatural. Rather, just be loving but at the same time straight forward, it would achieve the objective.