How to Get Back On Top of Your Routine and Enjoy Your Summer

group of people gathered and 'cheers'ing with their drinks

The last year or so has been one filled with obstacles, adjustment periods, worries, and even loss. Thankfully the vaccine is helping people move forward with their lives, and the world is starting to go “back to normal.” 

Shopping centers and recreational facilities are opening their doors, travel is becoming an option again, kids are going back to in-person school, and people are returning to their office (and that dreaded commute). 

This new period of transition can feel like a lot to handle, so we’ve prepared a guide that can help you get back on top of your routine and enjoy your summer.

Get Organized Digitally

Gone are the days when you needed a pen and paper to write yourself reminders and grocery lists, schedule meetings on your calendar, or give detailed care instructions to a sitter or co-parent. Luckily we live in an age where this help can come virtually, and many of these digital tools already exist in the palm of your hand via phone apps.

From assigning daily chores to your kids to scheduling daily reminders for yourself, our blog post on virtual tools can be one of the first stepping stones to getting you and your family organized.

[Related: How Pepper’s Can Help Moms After the Pandemic]

Schedule Time for Nothing

With the world “opening back up” you might feel pressured to jump right back in where you left off. You may even be tempted to schedule more social events and visits with family and friends than ever before, but be careful. Overexerting yourself socially, and not allowing for any open time on your calendar can result in burn out. 

Be intentional with your calendar and block off chunks of time two weeks out so you can control the busyness. Take time to breathe between events, and do your best to balance out your work life, social outings, and some essential “me time,” as you ease back into normal life.

Continue to Keep Clean

When it comes to cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, don’t throw your new habits out the window just because life is starting to go back to normal. Continue to pay more care and attention to keeping your home—especially germ-heavy areas like the kitchen, pet areas, and the bathroom—in good, clean condition. And remember: wash your hands, and stay home when you’re feeling sick!

[Related: Overcoming Stress – A Guide to Better Communication Within Your Home]

Understand You Went Through Trauma

Understand that this last year has been hard on you, and you’re experiencing the after-effects of mass trauma. BBC recognizes 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic as the first global mass trauma event since World War 2. Although the impact of the last year might be subtle, the pandemic has been detrimental on many people’s mental resilience. 

Be gentle with yourself and others during this time of recovery. Check in with your friends and family, especially your children to see how they are feeling. Consider talking to a therapist if you’re having difficulty expressing yourself or dealing with your stress in a healthy way. You’ll bounce back—but give yourself grace.

Ask For Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, now more than ever. It might take you a while longer to get back in the groove of things, such as in-person meetings and returning to the office, and you’re going to be out of the house more than you have been in the last year. 

A personal assistant can help cross some tasks off of your to-do list, take care of tedious errands, grocery shop and meal prep, and help you make the transition easier overall.

Schedule a Consultation With Pepper’s Personal Assistants

If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to handle the adjustment of taking your kids to their extracurriculars, going back to the office, and everything else that comes with the world reopening, we understand and are here for you. A dedicated personal assistant can help you get back on top of your routine and have things running smoothly in no time. 

Eliminate some of that stress and set up a consultation with Pepper’s Personal Assistants today!

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Pepper’s Personal Assistant Reviews

See what it’s really like to work with a Pepper’s personal assistant!

A True Game-Changer

“Having Mary as my personal assistant has been a game-changer. I don’t have to think about laundry or the cat litter—she handles all those daily tasks I’d rather not do. She’s proactive, assertive in all the right ways, and totally in control of every detail. I’d rate her a 5 out of 5, no question!”

Brian T.

Proactive, Reliable, Caring Support

“Sarah has been such a reliable support—always proactive, spotting things that need to be done before I even ask, and taking care of them. She has such a positive attitude and is constantly looking for ways to add value and make things easier. And I love how much happier and more spoiled my dogs are thanks to her care. I barely have to think about her day-to-day, and I mean that in the best way possible!”

K.W.

Exceptional Home Management

“Bernice is simply amazing—I just can’t say enough good things about her. She excels at physical tasks and knows my habits so well that she can anticipate my needs without me even saying anything. As a house manager, she’s exceptional; she takes care of all those little things that I wouldn’t even think of. Over time, we’ve developed a wonderful rhythm, and it’s such a relief to have someone who just knows what needs to be done and does it effortlessly.”

J.H.

Exceeding Expectations Every Day

“My PA has truly exceeded my expectations. I really enjoy coming home now because everything in my home is something I know and love. She’s helped me with tasks I didn’t even know where to begin, and her ability to do the background work and present options has been invaluable. She has made it possible for me to manage things without feeling overwhelmed, and it’s been a game changer for me!”

W.W.

Bringing Joy and Efficiency

“My PA Tess is proactive and handles everything beautifully, from small tasks that bring joy to big projects like planning trips. She balances recurring tasks with high-priority work, and everything gets done perfectly. I didn’t realize how much joy small things like making the bed could bring until Tess started doing them. She has truly made a difference in our home, bringing both efficiency and a level of organization and joy we didn’t realize we needed.”

K.H.

Support That Makes a Difference

“Having Missa as a PA has taken me from daily treading water to swimming to the shore. I’ve gone from never quite keeping up with things to actually having extra energy to do more. She has been a tremendous help, reducing my stress and allowing me to rest and recover. The support I receive is perfect; Missa is a 5 out of 5 in meeting all my needs. I’ve already recommended Pepper’s to a few friends because having extra help makes all the difference.”

Kathy M.

Back-to-School Unmatched Support

“Having Jay as my personal assistant has been fantastic. She helps me tackle projects that were just looming over my head and has built a great rapport with my teenage son. She’s helped my son pick out his back-to-school wardrobe and coached him through decisions — I couldn’t ask for better support. I sometimes think about when I could handle everything on my own, but now I can’t imagine doing it without Jay’s help.”

R.B.

PA to the Rescue

“I am very satisfied with my personal assistant. The biggest relief is knowing that when things get hectic with work my PA is there to help us from lighting on fire, especially when one of us is traveling.”

Ana V.

Dream PA Experience

“I am very satisfied; My PA has everything dialed in and the schedule works really well and is flexible when needed. Honestly: My PA and I click very well, I love it, it’s a dream!”

Jodi K.

Stress-Free Travel

“One of the massive benefits of having a PA is during travel disruptions. When flights are delayed, the kids are upset, and you’re stuck in customs, coming home to a stocked fridge and a prepared meal eliminates the need for a late-night milk run. You don’t realize the stress these tasks add until you have someone to handle them for you.”

A.S.

11/10!

“My PA is incredible—an 11 out of 10—really thoughtful, thorough, intuitive. She is professional but friendly; she has just been great. A couple of times because of things going on with her calendar, Kandis has been flexible—coming 15 minutes later to drop the dog off at puppy play. She has been really great.”

Libby

Thoughtful and Detail-Oriented

“My PA is a thoughtful and discerning assistant. She pays attention to details in our home and makes great suggestions for how to improve and optimize our lives. We trust her judgment, and she communicates proactively and frequently. She is always on-site on time and patient with my unpredictable schedule. We communicate frequently, but she’s also very efficient in how we communicate. Great work!”

Client

Super Happy!

“[I] really do think Kandis is setting the bar! Having a new person come into your house can go either way. [I’m] very grateful for the time and energy and people that Pepper’s has. It’s a big step; no suggestions around onboarding. [I’m] really happy that we were able to board Kandis quickly; super happy for the West Seattle support.”

Libby

Organizing Superhero

“My PA is really good at organizing; it’s one of her superpowers. Some of the simple reorganizing things that she has done have made a big impact. She organized all the cat stuff in the garage and took the initiative on her own. She’s bright and cheery—no moaning, whining. Very great.”

Emma

One of the Best Decisions I’ve Made

“I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I have appreciated working with all of the Pepper’s staff. My assistant is so generous and thoughtful — she brings value to every interaction. I can’t remember a time when I’ve hired anyone with such a professional and high standard of customer service. Working with you all has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a very long time!”

Libby

10/10 for Sure!

“Missa is a 10/10 for sure! She has been wonderful, and we check in regularly. I’m comfortable communicating with her about questions or requests, and she’s always been very responsive and also seems comfortable checking in if she has any questions for me. [The] biggest help remains pet care and household chores support, plus the help with one-off projects that come up. Missa has all kinds of skills she brings, (e.g., she’s currently putting together a ‘cat highway’ for the living room rafters).”

Homeowner

My Quality of Life Has Improved

“I used to spend every weekend and every evening doing chores and running errands. Now, I’m able to spend the time that I need to on my business, and then I get to enjoy my home and my life and the precious unstructured time that I have. The truth is, my quality of life has improved by having a Pepper’s household assistant here.”

Libby

Takes Initiative

“I want to mention what a fantastic personal assistant Billie is to me. We were on vacation last week, and she managed my household and vendors flawlessly. I even had her redecorate my office, and I gave her very little direction other than just to make it nice and functional, and, my goodness, did she ever! She takes initiative in my house in so many other ways but does not overstep or overspend. To strike that balance is really something unique and special. I feel really lucky to have her.”

Anura

I’m Blown Away

“[I’m] blown away by how much better the house looks already :)”

Graham

Kind, Caring, and Proactive

“My PA is a very caring person. I was incredibly ill last year, and my PA connected the dots that the washing machine had a lot of mold and thought the black specs on my clothes were from that. On her own time, my PA sent me an article about the impact of mold/washing machines. It was so kind of her.”

Emma

Goes Above and Beyond

“My PA has gone above and beyond. She’s organized my laundry room while keeping on top of laundry, which made it much easier to stay on top of stuff. She’s always ready to jump in and tackle items. It made this holiday season way less stressful.”

Andrea