I was talking to my husband about editing my post How I’m Creating More Time In My Day because I forgot to add one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in regards to being efficient and effective with my time: outsourcing.

I certainly am a woman who wants to do it all and feels like I should + I desire to be capable of doing so. After all, if I’m a mama who works from home, why shouldn’t I be able to do _________ {fill in the blank, or maybe just anything + everything}?! But then I told my husband, “You know what? I want to help women not feel this way anymore. I want to show women that they don’t have to do it all and they can still be their very best. No one will think any less of them and they will actually be better for it. Sometimes the best yeses come when we can actually say no.”

 

The Inspiration:

I listen to The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher every week. It has incredible insights and learning opportunities for women – especially those pursuing a business or creative venture! I specifically remember one podcast episode (listen here) that talked through details of outsourcing as it relates to owning a business. And as the highlights are certainly applicable to business related topics, it dawned on me that there is greater versatility to the concept of outsourcing.

I doubted it at first because, remember? I’m the woman who wants to do it all. Who may even think it’s expected of her. So why would I outsource? Thanks to some of these key highlights of the podcast episode, I have changed my perspective. The highlights have helped me work through the thoughts of both how and why I should outsource in my day-to-day life.

 

The Podcast Highlights That Changed My Perspective On Outsourcing:

Remove the doubt that you are the only one capable of doing the job at hand.
So you think you’re the only one who can grocery shop, or that it’s just in the routine to do it as a family on the weekend? That was me. Guess what? Your spouse is capable too. Sure, you may be the one meal planning, but we know how to make lists, ladies – I’m sure of that.

Another example: I’m usually the one juggling bath time and bedtime with three babes. All I had to do was sign up for a nighttime yoga class to come home to three bathed and sleeping children to reaffirm that I’m not the only one capable of the job at hand. I think we often let ourselves (especially as mothers) think that no one else can do what we do. I wholeheartedly believe that we mamas are special and have that special mama way with our children, but there are others who can do it, too (albeit a little differently than we may go about things).

Be realistic about what others are capable of accomplishing.
I’ll cut to the chase with this one: is a person who comes to your house realistically capable of cleaning it in three hours? Yes. Way faster than you are. This job, it takes me forever because I stop and start and stop and start or just can’t get to everything. With kids around, an on demand breastfeeding schedule and other responsibilities throughout the day, it’s just SO hard to ever find three hours of uninterrupted time to clean. When I was realistic about the fact that someone else could do it more efficiently than I could + I could get that time back, we made the decision to hire out. We consulted our family budget and fit it in because it was just that worth it.

Choose the right people, at the right time, for the right task.
So, we had a woman cleaning our house for a period of time who was the right person because she did an amazing job – I’m particular. And, she was helping us at a time that we needed it the most. Mark was traveling a ton the few months before giving birth to Rush and I was home (very pregnant) with two little girls who were taking up all my time and energy + working more freelance hours than I typically take on. When Mark was home on the weekend, we wanted to enjoy each other + spend time as a family, not spend half of a day cleaning.

Cut out the busy work; outsource the parts that drain you.
What adds the most busy to your schedule? What absolutely drains you? Since adding a third baby to our family, it seems our laundry has increased ten fold. I’m not really sure how that math adds up, but trust me, we have so. much. laundry. these days. I literally couldn’t (and can’t) keep up. It was quite honestly draining me. I would be baby wearing and juggling lunchtime with two littles who were oh-so-ready for naps while I was folding laundry at the kitchen table and searching for socks to match a pair that was no longer a pair because one must have been eaten in the washing machine. You feel me?

Mark and I talked about the laundry situation and he began starting loads of laundry at night and folding + sock searching so I didn’t have to do it all. (No one says the solution of outsourcing has to mean you pay for help.)

Saying no to one thing is really saying yes to something else.
I can’t even begin to describe how much my life transformed when I recognized how incredibly true this statement is + put it to practice. By saying no, I’m not going to grocery shop every single time we need to go, I gained an hour or two of time to spend on other productive tasks. By saying no, I’m not going to clean my house, I was able to say yes I’m going to spend time with my husband and kids. By saying no, I’m not going to do every single load of laundry, I was able to stress less and say yes to resting in my early postpartum days.

 

Removing tasks or jobs or things from our lives by outsourcing opens up a world of YES before our very eyes. Yes to things that fill us up rather than drain us. As women who want to do it all, there is so much power in recognizing that by doing the things we do best + minimizing the things that bring us down or cause us stress/trouble/etc., we will be far better off — lighter, happier, balanced, more successful.

 

What can you outsource?

I’ve compiled a short list of things that you could consider outsourcing. Really, you need to decide what the things are the drain you and of course, make sure it’s the right time for the right job with the right person.

• Cleaning
• Mowing the lawn
• Walking your dog
• Childcare
  Maybe this is simply adding a childcare option to your gym membership so you can fit your workouts in!
• Driving
  As in carpools! Or, another example is that Mark sometimes takes the bus to work because it gives him more productive time in his day rather than spending a commute stuck in traffic.
• Laundry
  Ask your spouse or have your kids help. Maven is a really good laundry helper even at the young age of 3.
• Activities for kids
  Sign them up for activities rather than feel pressure to become a Pinterest mom. Or schedule play dates!
• Meals
  In addition to the idea of a meal swap, why not try a meal/grocery delivery service? We love HelloFresh! Use code 6G6R6K to receive $40 off your first delivery.

 

Be reminded that outsourcing doesn’t have to mean paying someone. Can you ask your spouse? Are your children old enough to help? Do Grandma and Grandpa have the ability and desire to help with their grandchildren? Can you exchange childcare with a friend? Do a meal swap? Get creative with your outsourcing and always consult your family budget. Weigh the pros and cons of spending money to outsource and don’t be afraid to try one solution and change your mind. As for us, there was a time we outsourced cleaning and right now we aren’t. Although that doesn’t mean we won’t again in the future.  {Ahem, Mark.?}

 

What is your perspective on outsourcing?

If you want to be able to say YES to something, will you consider saying no first + outsourcing something in your life? I promise, you will be better for it.

 

XO