by Kara | Feb 14, 2024 | Outsourcing
The most successful people know that one thing’s for sure—even if you want to, you can’t do everything yourself. This is where outsourcing comes into play. Whether you run your own business, are a single person working from home, a new homeowner, or a parent juggling the needs of your family, outsourcing can truly change your life for the better.
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Done right, outsourcing tasks to an outside company or individual can increase productivity, and free up precious time for you to be more engaged in what matters most to you. This type of investment is incredibly valuable, as it allows you to make the most out of the 24 hours in each day.
How Do You Decide If You Need to Outsource?
So how do you decide which tasks are worth outsourcing? Consider things like your skill level, your budget, and your schedule. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when you’re considering what to outsource.
- Am I putting off this task because I lack the resources or energy? If the answer is yes, you should consider outsourcing..
- Do I have the skillset to do this task efficiently? If you have the ability to do this task yourself, and it will end up taking more time, energy, or money to outsource it, you might want to reconsider.
- Do I view this task with dread rather than excitement? Sometimes there are things that, although not necessarily difficult, are for whatever reason incredibly stressful. If something is contributing to burnout, take a load off and relax through outsourcing.
- Is outsourcing this task a good investment? Think about if the task you’re considering outsourcing is a worthy investment to free up your time.
- Can I better spend my time on a higher level task? You might be great at doing things around the house like meal prep, laundry, and paying your bills—but is it worth your time? Your time saved through outsourcing could be better spent with your family, growing your business, enjoying the outdoors, or focusing on yourself.
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What Types of Tasks Do Successful People Outsource?
You can definitely get more out of your 24-hour day by hiring others to take care of certain tasks. And personal outsourcing has never been easier. Personal household assistants, virtual companies, and delivery services are ready at the click of a mouse to help give you back some precious time to spend with yourself and your loved ones.
The following categories are just some that successful people everywhere outsource.
Landscaping and Gardening
Do you have a garden or yard? Maybe you’re growing some fruit and vegetables in your garden, or have a large, beautiful lawn but don’t have time to keep up on the maintenance. Outsourcing these tasks to someone with the right tools and equipment can ease your mind.
Bill-paying and Taxes
Consider setting up automatic payments for recurring monthly bills, and hire someone to take care of the more complex financial tasks such as taxes and account organization.
Meal Prepping and Groceries
As of 2016, the average American spends 37 minutes a day preparing, serving, and cleaning up after meals—and we know that number has probably only increased in the last six years. This doesn’t even take into account the time we spend grocery shopping and meal planning. Wouldn’t it be great to get that time back? Look into meal delivery services or hire someone to grocery shop and meal prep healthy, delicious food for you during the week.
Housecleaning
Does it feel like your home is never clean longer than a day or two before things start piling up again? If you can afford to hire a housecleaner, you could use that time for some serious self-care. Besides, who doesn’t love a clean house (especially when someone else cleans it)?
Handyman Tasks
Unless you enjoy learning how to fix things, or you’re naturally talented at repair, outsourcing handyman tasks like fixing a leaky faucet or a tricky light fixture can save you a lot of strife.
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Pet Care
From at-home grooming and pet food purchasing to vet appointments and long walks, these types of errands can make having a dog or cat feel more like a chore than a companionship. Outsourcing tasks like these is a win-win situation for everyone, including your furry friend!
Hire a Personal Household Assistant Today!
Pepper’s Personal Assistants are experienced, skilled, and ready to take care of the things many successful people outsource every day. From bill-paying to grocery-shopping and everything in between, our personal household assistants can drastically improve your daily life by giving you back the time you deserve.
Interested in learning more? 
to get started and learn how long-term, recurring household support can increase your happiness.
Featured image via Unsplash
by Kara | Feb 14, 2024 | Organizational
Historically, men have been typecast as headstrong providers, known for refusing to ask for directions on the road, while women have been stereotyped as nurturing caregivers expected to shoulder the domestic burden of the nuclear family, all with a warm smile. However, these stereotypes and gender roles fail to allow for individual differences, evolution over time, and the need for flexibility in ever-changing life circumstances.
One social expectation that does not consider the best interests of many women is the assumption that asking for help is a sign of weakness for mothers, partners, or individuals. Many women feel the pressure to maintain pride in the face of this misconception and thus struggle to ask for help, even when they desperately need it. It is important to remember that the “shame” associated with seeking assistance need not be more than an outdated illusion.
Liberate Yourself By Asking for Help
Long-held assumptions would suggest that being a strong, independent woman requires gracefully taking on challenges solo. But enlisting outside help when you need it can actually liberate you. This can also nurture your independence (for instance, by clearing time for self-care essential to stay physically, mentally, and emotionally strong).
There are many reasons why women hesitate to ask for help in their own lives — including fear of rejection, seeming incapable, being a burden, losing control (especially in one’s own household), and the belief that we shouldn’t need to ask for help in the first place. But you can experience even more benefits from releasing those fears and challenging oneself to seek support anyway.
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Tend to Your Needs First
First and foremost, follow your flight attendant’s pre-takeoff instructions: put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. When you tend to your personal needs first, you can be a better partner, parent, friend, employee… you name it! Society expects women to nurture those close to them, sometimes at the expense of nurturing themselves. Especially during challenging or chaotic times, it’s essential to find time for yourself; but because there are only so many hours in a day, and because humans have only finite emotional energy, this often necessitates asking for support.
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Seek Support in Personal and Professional Networks
So, whether in the workplace or at home, dare to seek support from those in your personal and professional networks. Start with friends, family members, and trusted colleagues, and consider enlisting professional help. Leveraging your available resources to achieve the best possible outcomes doesn’t mean relinquishing control, admitting defeat, or succumbing to weakness; it simply means knowing yourself (including your limitations) and taking the actions necessary for your success. It takes strength and self-awareness to acknowledge life’s challenges and accept a helping hand to overcome them.
Rather than covering up our vulnerabilities and asking for help as a last-ditch effort, let’s remember these words of wisdom:
“Humans are not designed to go through our days, careers or family life without constant feedback and support from others. We are social creatures and we are better together.”
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Allow Pepper’s Personal Assistants to Help!
Couldn’t we all use a pair of helping hands in our daily lives? Fortunately, Pepper’s Personal Assistants are here to help! When you’re ready for some household management assistance, help with errands and chores, and customized personal support, 
experience all you have to gain from accepting support.
by Kara | Feb 14, 2024 | Outsourcing
Sometimes it feels like life is a parade of drudgery.
There are so many things we have to do, and there’s not enough time for the things we want to do. If you feel like too many mundane tasks are making it difficult to devote your energy to the things that truly make your life worth living, maybe you could pass a few to us.
Pepper’s Personal Assistants are here to take some responsibilities off your plate so you don’t have to waste any more time on them.
Here are a few ideas of what we might help you with, but we’re always down to hear your ideas, too!
Dry Cleaning and Laundry
You need clean, pressed clothes every day, but nothing drains your time and energy quite like dealing with laundry. We can help you make sure your closet is full and your hamper is empty by handling dry cleaning and laundry..
Grocery Shopping
Hitting the grocery store after work on a weekday is great at sapping your time and patience. Wouldn’t it be better if you could just open your fridge and find it stocked with all your favorite foods? It might sound like magic — but it’s Pepper’s Personal Assistants.
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Dog Walking
Most pet owners love spending quality time with their animals. But when your schedule is full, you shouldn’t have to choose between letting your work or your dog suffer. Working with a personal household assistant takes some of the pressure off and makes sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and is ready to relax with you later.
Prescription Refills
You just took your last pill, so you’ll need to go to the pharmacy before it closes at 5 in the afternoon. That is … you will unless you’ve hired Pepper’s Personal Assistants. We’re always happy to do emergency pickups for you, but if you’re a client, we probably called in and delivered your prescription days ago!
Gift Shopping
Uh oh — your coworker’s baby shower is tonight! Instead of showing up empty-handed, bringing something as gauche as a gift card or skipping that last meeting to snag something, let us select a thoughtful gift for you!
Reservation Making
The in-laws are coming to town, and you need to make a dinner reservation for tonight at a place with low-sodium, gluten-free options and plenty of ambience. Rather than spend half an hour scouring Yelp and calling around, we can find you the perfect table.
Bill Paying
Roughly one in four U.S. adults fail to pay their bills on time, and 61% of those who do blame forgetfulness, not financial need. If you’re one of the many people who struggle to keep track of their payment deadlines, let us take over.
We can help you automate payments and organize what you have to pay and when. Your credit score will thank you!
Doctor’s Appointments
Nothing makes an experience feel like a waste of time quite like the music that plays when you’re on hold. If you’re trying to schedule an appointment, let us wait for you!
Unfortunately, we can’t go to the doctor on your behalf, but at least you don’t have to hear three (or four or five) rounds of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
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Home Improvement Supervision
Have you ever noticed that if you wait around for furniture delivery (or appliance installation, internet or cable help, a home repair or remodeling crew, etc.) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., they’ll come at the last possible moment? Other times, they’ll show up at the exact time you need to run a 15-minute errand.
Let us wait for the handyman or delivery person.
We promise to be there to greet them and supervise while they work — and we’ll also take care of the rest of your to-do list as we wait.
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Contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants Today!
For these services and many more, ! If you’ve got a problem, we bet we’ve got a solution.
by Kara | Feb 13, 2024 | Organizational
We know that trying to juggle housework, your career, family care, social obligations, and time for yourself can seem impossible—which is why Pepper’s Personal Assistants is ready to enter your life and make the transition as easy as possible, The Pepper’s Way.
We’ve asked our team what advice they’d give new clients just starting out with the personal household assistant process, and we’ve put together a guide for first-timers.
Prepare for Help
The first thing clients should do is prepare for help. And no, we don’t mean start organizing your house before someone comes to organize it for you!
Think about your goals, both personal and for your home, and what you would really appreciate another set of hands with. Do a “mind dump” of ideas to brainstorm why you want a personal household assistant and what you’re looking to get out of the arrangement. What are your current pain points? Don’t worry about finding the solution—that’s where we come in. List these tasks and problem areas out in order of priority, and you and your PA can work together to make things easier.
Many people, especially those who have no previous experience with personal household assistants, find it difficult to ask for and accept help. We’re here to make sure that you feel supported, because asking for help never should be looked at as a sign of weakness. Successful people outsource. Our personal assistants give you a helping hand so you can find time for what matters: self-care, and spending time with your friends and family.
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Get Started With Your Personal Household Assistant
Once you have your list, you can begin getting set up with your personal household assistant. Taking the time to ask the most important and targeted questions will set you and your household assistant up for success.
Decide on a schedule, and remember that consistency is key. Consider using virtual organization tools such as Google Calendar, Slack, AnyList and Trello to share information, and communicate regularly with your assistant. Apps such as LastPass are great for saving passwords if your assistant is helping you answer emails and pay online bills. Call your credit card company to add your household assistant if they will be making purchases for you. You can also set up a petty cash system with Venmo or Paypal.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Communication is the key to success in any relationship. We find joy in making your life easier and view feedback as a gift. No matter how big or small, always let your household assistant know if something isn’t working as soon as possible. This will get you where you want to be much quicker.
We suggest clients set aside a regular time to meet and talk with their household assistant to check in. Even a five minute conversation can unblock a lot of items and get things moving in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to discuss your preferences and if there is a certain way you’d like things done—after all, we’re here to make your life easier!
Use Slack to communicate outside of check-in times, and feel free to share how you best operate. What works well? What is most important to you? Your least favorite tasks to tackle? What do you wish you had more time for? What keeps you in your zone of genius?
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Allow Time to Find a Rhythm
Our goal is to get to a place where things are running like clockwork—but that takes time. We’ve found it’s best to give your personal household assistant a little time to get to know you and your home in order to set up a strong foundation. This typically takes around 90 days. As you and your personal household assistant get to know each other, it’s going to become easier for them to anticipate your needs and for you to feel more comfortable asking for help.
Trust the Process and Let’s Get Started
Remember, your personal household assistant is here to make your life easier. Trust the process, let go, and lean into them for support! It may seem like a lot of work up front to hand off tasks and responsibilities, but the more you work together and communicate, the easier it will be in the long run.
Interested in learning more? and let’s get started.
by Kara | Feb 13, 2024 | News
Sometimes deciding if you need a personal assistant can be an overwhelming task all in itself. This is why we’ve made it easy. If these six signs line up with your daily life, it might be an indicator you could benefit from hiring a personal household assistant from Pepper’s.
You’re Trying to Take on Everything At Once
It’s easy to think that you can handle everything—and maybe you can! But completing tasks, planning out future projects, and worrying about everyone else all at the same time can be detrimental to your happiness and wellbeing.
Relieve your mental load by hiring a personal household assistant. Take a moment to list out all of the planning, scheduling, and organizing that’s cluttering your mind and decide which tasks can be outsourced. A household assistant can take care of these tasks and give you back the time and flexibility to focus on what really matters. Don’t forget, successful people ask for help too!
You Find Yourself Putting Off Simple Tasks
Does it seem like the more things you need to do, the more you find yourself pushing small, everyday tasks to the back burner?
If you’re too busy tackling large projects and never-ending to-do lists to get to daily tasks such as dishes or laundry, a household assistant might be a great fit. PAs can take care of the little things so they don’t pile up and cause even more stress.
You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Did Something You Enjoy
If you’re dealing with overload, chances are you’re missing out on the fun stuff—or even just the small things you enjoy.
When you find yourself canceling dinner with friends, postponing dates with your partner, or missing a movie or concert you were really looking forward to seeing, it’s time to hire a personal household assistant for your well-being.
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You Keep Adding On To Your To-Do List
We all have to-do lists, and it feels great to cross tasks off and see them shrink before our eyes. if you add more items to these lists than you complete, you’ll lose that feeling of satisfaction and begin feeling more overwhelmed than productive.
One solution is to hire a personal household assistant who can manage these tasks and help you make some real progress.
You’re Always Running Late
It’s easy to run late when your written schedule is unorganized, jam-packed, or simply non-existent. Consistently rushing from one obligation to another, especially when they’re important events like your child’s soccer game or a friend’s birthday dinner, can be a quick road to feeling terrible.
A household assistant can help organize your calendar, avoid scheduling overlap, and ensure that you have enough leeway and preparation to make these events on time.
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You Wish The Day Was Longer
It’s a common thought: I wish there were more hours in the day. Feeling this way frequently can be a sure sign that you could benefit from hiring a personal household assistant. If that were a reality, what could you do with that extra time?
A personal household assistant can give you more of your time back. Spend it with friends and family, indulge in a little self-care, or focus on your hobbies and personal long-term goals.
Contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants Today!
Have you come to the conclusion that a household assistant can help improve your life? Pepper’s Personal Assistants is here for you. Our personal assistants offer long-term, recurring household support in the Seattle area. Interested? and let’s get started.
Featured image via Unsplash
