How Do You Raise Uneven Effort Without Keeping Score?

In a friendship, one person may often be the one who plans, checks in, or follows through. Naming that pattern can help—but a list of past favors can make a conversation feel like a trial.

How would you raise a recurring imbalance while keeping the focus on what you need going forward? What belongs in a clear request, and what should stay flexible so care doesn’t become a tally?