OK, OG weblog readers—do you keep in mind hyperlink ups?
I’m speaking concerning the again within the day period (2011–2014) when bloggers would all write on the identical matter, then hyperlink their posts collectively so you would hop across the web studying everybody’s take. It was such a enjoyable approach 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 children referred to 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: after I noticed that Shay was internet hosting a month-to-month hyperlink up referred to as Let’s Look, nostalgia gripped my coronary heart and I couldn’t resist. Every month has a unique matter—she writes about it, others can too, and then you definately hyperlink your put up to hers so readers can peek into how completely different households do XYZ.
January’s matter is: Issues We Outsource With out Remorse.
Issues We Outsource With out Remorse
A Extra Considerate Take a look at Outsourcing
Outsourcing has a little bit of a picture downside. It may 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 finest spent.
In lots of circumstances, it truly makes stable monetary sense. Releasing up time to deal with 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 stability 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, typically native small companies. By bringing in an knowledgeable to knock out a job 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 Assist 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 wonderfully clear home and extra about creating psychological house. I really like our house, and at this stage, my time and power are sometimes higher spent elsewhere. Figuring out the larger cleanings are taken care by the stunning girls we’ve labored with for a yr now permits me to really take pleasure in our house as an alternative of continually managing it. I nonetheless deal with the in-between duties—sweeping, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and cleansing bogs—however having that further layer of help has been a present I don’t take with no consideration.
Tax Preparation
This can be a large one. May we do our taxes ourselves? Perhaps. Will we need to? Completely not. Between enterprise revenue, leases, and life typically, outsourcing tax prep offers us peace of thoughts and confidence that issues are being executed appropriately.
Seasonal Dwelling Upkeep
Exterior home washing, home windows, gutters—these are jobs that require ladders, time, and extra motivation than I usually have. Outsourcing these a couple of times a yr retains our house maintained with out changing into overwhelming or unsafe.
Dwelling Pest Management
We’ve got an organization come quarterly to spray round the home. We nonetheless have gotten a wild quantity of ladybugs that someway made their manner 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 plenty of this ourselves. Small repairs, installs, and tasks are inclined to fall into the “we are able to do that” class—and typically even really feel satisfying.
Grocery Buying & Meal Prep
That is half routine, half choice. I like being in command 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. Moreover it’s not possible to elucidate the precise ripeness I want of an avocado to a different particular person 😉
Childcare
I’m house more often than not, however our children are on the age that we are able to depart for a bit they usually’re simply effective on their very own. Even perhaps desire it at occasions? 😉
Garden Care
One other one we at present 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? Perhaps at some point.
Should you’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 manner. It’s all about selecting help that makes your life run higher, and supporting others whilst you accomplish that.
Play alongside within the comments- what do you outsource? What do you favor to do your self?
And if you happen to’re an OG blogger who remembers hyperlink ups fondly, hello 🙂 and the place has the time gone?!
