OK, OG weblog readers—do you bear in mind hyperlink ups?
I’m speaking in regards to the again within the day period (2011–2014) when bloggers would all write on the identical subject, then hyperlink their posts collectively so you would hop across the web studying everybody’s take. It was such a enjoyable strategy to discover new bloggers in your little nook of the web. This was pre-Instagram, pre-TikTok—when blogs have been major connection factors.
It’s the place WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) originated (shoutout to Jenn from Peas & Crayons), and I even hosted a month-to-month hyperlink up devoted to what we have been feeding our youngsters known as Munchkin Meals. Most likely not probably the most considerate title, however apparently I’ve all the time been a sucker for alliteration.
All that to say: once I noticed that Shay was internet hosting a month-to-month hyperlink up known as Let’s Look, nostalgia gripped my coronary heart and I couldn’t resist. Every month has a special subject—she writes about it, others can too, and then you definitely hyperlink your publish to hers so readers can peek into how totally different households do XYZ.
January’s subject is: Issues We Outsource With out Remorse.
Issues We Outsource With out Remorse
A Extra Considerate Have a look at Outsourcing
Outsourcing has a little bit of a picture drawback. It will probably sound indulgent—like one thing reserved for individuals with limitless budgets—however that hasn’t been our expertise. For us, outsourcing has been much less about luxurious and extra about readability: understanding our limits, defending our power, and selecting the place our time is greatest spent.
In lots of instances, it truly makes strong monetary sense. Releasing up time to concentrate on work we do properly, decreasing stress-fueled errors, and avoiding the “we’ll simply do it ourselves” spiral that finally ends up costing extra in the long term. It’s a fragile steadiness of being succesful and lifelike—of recognizing when doing all of it quietly prices greater than we expect.
Outsourcing is about opting right into a life that feels extra sustainable, extra current, and extra aligned with what issues most. Additionally, it helps help different companies, usually native small companies. By bringing in an professional to knock out a activity they’re good at, it helps them and frees us as much as work on the issues we’re good at. Win win!
Outsourcing Decisions That Help Our Household
Home Cleansing
Each different week, I’m grateful to have assist with home cleansing. It’s one thing we’ve thoughtfully labored into our finances over time, and it hasn’t all the time been a part of our life. For me, it’s much less about having a superbly clear home and extra about creating psychological house. I really like our dwelling, and at this stage, my time and power are sometimes higher spent elsewhere. Figuring out the larger cleanings are taken care by the beautiful women we’ve labored with for a 12 months now permits me to actually get pleasure from our house as a substitute of regularly managing it. I nonetheless deal with the in-between duties—sweeping, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and cleansing bogs—however having that additional layer of help has been a present I don’t take as a right.
Tax Preparation
It is a large one. Might we do our taxes ourselves? Possibly. Will we need to? Completely not. Between enterprise earnings, leases, and life basically, outsourcing tax prep offers us peace of thoughts and confidence that issues are being completed appropriately.
Seasonal House Upkeep
Exterior home washing, home windows, gutters—these are jobs that require ladders, time, and extra motivation than I sometimes have. Outsourcing these a few times a 12 months retains our dwelling maintained with out turning into overwhelming or unsafe.
House Pest Management
Now we have an organization come quarterly to spray round the home. We nonetheless have gotten a wild quantity of ladybugs that in some way made their means in final month, nevertheless it certain does assist with the vast majority of creepy crawlers.
Issues We Don’t Outsource (At Least Not Proper Now)
Handyman Duties
This one surprises individuals, however we (ahem, OK, David) truly deal with lots of this ourselves. Small repairs, installs, and tasks are inclined to fall into the “we are able to do that” class—and generally even really feel satisfying.
Grocery Purchasing & Meal Prep
That is half routine, half desire. I like being in charge of what we’re consuming, what’s in our pantry, and the way meals come collectively. It’s work, sure—however work that fulfills me and it feels manageable and acquainted. Apart from it’s inconceivable to elucidate the precise ripeness I want of an avocado to a different particular person 😉
Childcare
I’m dwelling more often than not, however our youngsters are on the age that we are able to go away for a bit they usually’re simply superb on their very own. Maybe even want it at instances? 😉
Garden Care
One other one we presently deal with ourselves. It’s seasonal, predictable, and for now, doable.
Skilled Organizing
We haven’t outsourced this…but. However doesn’t it sound dreamy? Possibly someday.
If you happen to’ve ever felt bizarre admitting you outsource one thing—or responsible for not outsourcing one thing others do—I hope this serves as a reminder that there’s nobody proper means. It’s all about selecting help that makes your life run higher, and supporting others whilst you achieve this.
Play alongside within the comments- what do you outsource? What do you favor to do your self?
And when you’re an OG blogger who remembers hyperlink ups fondly, hello 🙂 and the place has the time gone?!
