by Kara | Apr 4, 2024 | News, Organizational
At any point in time, you have a lot going on. Between your career, kid-related activities, and household responsibilities, you sometimes struggle to ensure it doesn’t all collapse around you.
But just because you aspire to have it all doesn’t mean you have to do it all. With the help of a household assistant, you can cross everything off your to-do list and fit quality family time and self-care into your schedule.
The Challenges of Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Time
If you’ve ever felt there’s too much to manage and not enough time to do it, you’re not alone. A recent study found that most working parents are stretched too thin, with 66 percent saying they feel burned out. Working mothers have a particularly hard time because they shoulder many household responsibilities without help. More than one in four (28 percent) working moms in the study reported managing family responsibilities alone during weekends, and 41.3 percent said they managed them alone during the week.
The weight of family and household chores leaves most working moms with little to no personal time. According to a 2023 Motherly study, 62 percent of moms get less than an hour to themselves each day. If you can relate, you know how frustrating it can be to lack time for yourself and the things that matter most to you.
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How a Household Assistant Helps
Time is one of the most valuable yet scarce resources we have. However, for working mothers who feel pressure to be a supermom and do it all, it seems there are never enough hours in the day.
If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a messy house or like you’re on an endless hamster wheel of trying to be a great career professional, mother, and friend and make time for yourself, there’s a viable solution! Getting much-needed help from a personal assistant provides the freedom you need to focus more on what you want to do and less on what you have to do. Research shows outsourcing household chores can even feel more rewarding than a salary increase.
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Here are three key benefits you can enjoy by making this time-saving (and life-changing) investment:
1. More Time for the Things That Matter Most
Instead of spending the bulk of your evenings and weekends on draining household chores, such as doing laundry, washing dishes, or making appointments, you can outsource these tasks to a household assistant. Think of all the time you’ll have for family and personal activities when you have someone to take ownership of completing all those chores and clearing them off your plate.
Your assistant can handle the following tasks for you:
- Doing laundry
- Shopping for groceries and preparing food
- Making returns and running other errands
- Paying bills
- Walking the dog
- Making and rescheduling appointments
- Supervising repair technicians and taking deliveries
- Planning travel, including packing and unpacking
2. A Less Stressful Life
Carrying the mental load of everything on your to-do list is draining enough. But spending hours on chores while you feel guilty neglecting the things and people most important to you is also stressful. However, you can remove those stressors with a personal assistant who can bring more organization and order to your life and household.
When you work with Pepper’s Personal Assistants, we take the time to understand your household needs and match you with the ideal household assistant for you and your family. Once your assistant is up and running, you’ll need only a 15-minute weekly check-in with them to gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing all the chores are getting done the way you would do them yourself (or better!).
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3. Household Help Without the Administrative Headaches
Working with a household assistant doesn’t have to include the added responsibilities of managing payroll, taxes, and labor law compliance. When you hire a Pepper’s personal assistant, you get experienced household help, and we do all the rest. We manage everything from your assistant’s pay and payroll taxes to their health benefits and performance reviews.
Work with Seattle’s Trusted Source of Personal Household Assistants
Life is too short to spend on household chores that rob you of precious time with your family and other passions. By delegating those chores to an experienced and trustworthy household assistant, you can enjoy more of life while keeping your household running like clockwork.
Discover how to put more hours back into your week, and download our guide, What Your Life Could Look Like with a Household Assistant.
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
by Kara | Feb 13, 2024 | News
Proper nutrition is important for weight management and weight loss, both of which can reduce your risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Making informed food choices on a regular basis is also an important part of self-care and helps you to feel and perform your best.
Unfortunately, whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working parent, or busy professional, nutrition often takes a backseat to other priorities. That’s why Pepper’s Personal Assistants provides several services to make healthy eating easy.
Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping is time-consuming, especially if you go on the weekend when everyone else is out shopping. Driving to the store, finding your items, and then waiting in those long lines all eat into your precious free time on Saturdays and Sundays.
We can do your weekly shopping or coordinate regular grocery deliveries. Imagine never having to do a last-minute Sunday-night grocery run again!
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Meal Prep
Of course, if you want to plan healthy, well-balanced meals, just creating your grocery list is a task in itself.
We’ve all skipped this step before, choosing random items at the store only to realize later that we don’t have what’s necessary for the full week, or even for a full meal. This usually results in wasting food you bought too much of or having to return to the store again for forgotten items.
Your personal household assistant can relieve you of this burden by creating a comprehensive weekly meal plan, shopping for the necessary items, and even preparing each meal for you ahead of time. When you get off work, all you’ll have to do is cook the prepared items and enjoy!
Take Control of Your Nutrition
People who lack the time (or energy) for meal planning, grocery shopping, and prepping often end up just eating whatever they can find in the kitchen or ordering takeout, neither of which is healthy on a consistent basis.
Interested in learning more? and let’s get started.
Featured image via Unsplash
by Kara | Jul 3, 2023 | News
Updated: August 31, 2023
As the coronavirus pandemic enters its third year, the health of our employees and clients remains our top priority. We are committed to following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines along with applicable requirements from state and local health authorities.
We recognize that guidance and requirements are constantly changing and will continue to align our processes with the current guidance.
Here is what Pepper’s and our personal assistants are doing to ensure the health and safety of our team and clients amid COVID-19 and related variants:
- Employees will communicate prior to working in client homes if any household members are showing COVID-19 symptoms, is considered a close contact of a positive case, or has tested positive for COVID-19.
- In the event that an employee tests positive for COVID, they will follow CDC testing and isolation guidance
What we need from our clients:
- Communicate with your personal assistants prior to their arrival if any household members are showing COVID-19 symptoms, is considered a close contact of a positive case, or has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Follow CDC testing and isolation guidance for household members experiencing symptoms or are close contacts of confirmed COVID cases.
- When possible, relocate household members to areas away from a personal assistant while they are in the home.
Questions? Contact us today!
by Kara | Jan 9, 2023 | News
Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:
If you’re considering living in Seattle, you might be familiar with the city for its bustling waterfront, lush evergreen forests, and the picturesque San Juan Islands. Seattle is also known as the birthplace of Starbucks, the Space Needle, and the flying fish at Pike Place Market. But these are just a few of the things that set Seattle apart from other major metropolises. So what else is Seattle known for?
From waterfront activities and beautiful green spaces to the incredible art scene and access to nature, you’ll quickly discover countless more reasons why Seattle is such a desirable place to live.
Maybe you’ve just moved and are renting in one of Seattle’s many neighborhoods, perhaps Phinney Ridge or Montlake, and want to get to know your city better. Or, maybe you’re curious about what it’s like to live here before relocating to the Emerald City. Either way, this city has so much to offer.
Read the full article here: What is Seattle Known For? 22 Ways to Get to Know The Emerald City | Redfin
by Kara | Dec 20, 2022 | News
While holiday celebrations begin to fade to memory, the New Year forges on ahead. Reality can hit you like a ton of bricks as the new year (and your calendar) begins to fill with responsibilities and commitments. Even if you enter the New Year feeling refreshed and ready to tackle it all with an optimistic attitude, life stressors have a way of weaseling in.
Feeling stressed out frequently can not only create mental blocks to relaxation and happiness, but it can also trigger an ongoing physical response that can bring about chronic pain and inflammation, as well as a lowered immune system.
Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to reduce your stress levels this year and enjoy peace and balance.
[Related: Overcoming Stress: A Guide to Better Communication Within Your Home]
Practice Self-Care
Between your professional and personal life, some stress is inevitable, but practicing regular self-care activities can help you avoid burnout and take the edge off in a constructive way. Many quick self-care habits can fit easily into your daily to-do list without taking up more than 30 minutes of your time.
Regardless of the time commitment, effective self-care takes several aspects into consideration: some may be fitness-oriented (such as a cardio routine), while others may aim to boost mindfulness (meditation) or simply provide some pampering (a weekly massage or movie night). Self-care can be practiced solo (reading a book or taking a bath) or with others (a group meal, book club, or yoga class).
Be Mindful of Noise
Is your office next to a busy city street, or are you working from home in the midst of family chaos? Loud noises can trigger your stress response and make it hard to focus and be mindful. Try wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to reduce upsetting noises, or play soothing music to help with your relaxation.
[Related: Burnout: What’s At Stake and What Can You Do About It?]
Take Care of Your Body
We’ve all got one body we must live in — so do what you can to make yours a habitable, comfortable, and healthy place! Physical stressors directly impact your mental and emotional health. Limit these and your general stress level will improve proportionally. Plus, taking care of your body is a crucial part of self-care!
Start by ensuring you’re getting enough sleep. What is considered “enough?” According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults age 18 and over require a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night to function at their peak. Keep in mind this number can vary, with some adults needing up to 9 hours of sleep per night.
Regular exercise is equally as important, especially since physical activity is a great outlet to channel and extinguish existing stress.
Finally, make sure to eat a balanced diet with plenty of nutritious foods, and minimize those that ultimately bring your energy crashing down (excess caffeine or alcohol, sugary drinks, and other empty calories).
Be Intentional With Your Screen Time
We know it’s difficult, but try to limit the time you spend looking at your phone or laptop as much as possible, especially in the hours leading to bedtime. While these devices are often an unavoidable part of life, they can also be a big trigger for stress. Studies have linked excessive smartphone use with increased levels of stress, and it might also be negatively affecting your sleep quality. Try to set a timer or a schedule for when the best time to scroll is.
[Related: 6 Signs You Need a Personal Assistant]
Improve Time Management
Maintaining the foresight to stay organized in your day-to-day life will cut stress drastically. Operating on a schedule can help you improve your efficiency at work and at home, and reduce your stress.
Rather than digging into office tasks at random, start the week with a basic to-do list and experiment to determine the best way to prioritize projects. Instead of running errands haphazardly, create a route that minimizes driving time.
Finally, cut procrastination! Putting off responsibilities only serves to create more stress down the road. Hiring a personal assistant can help you focus on getting the important things done as soon as possible.
Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
When you’re overworked and overtired, it’s easy to feel like you let people down, or aren’t doing your best. Understand that you can’t be 100% successful at everything all at once, give yourself some grace, and be mindful of what you can and cannot control. Setting realistic goals and expectations can help eliminate some of the pressure that you may be putting on yourself.
[Related: How a Personal Assistant Can Help This Holiday Season]
Outsource Responsibility Where Possible
Pepper’s Personal Assistants believes what matters most when outsourcing tasks to a third party is that doing so ultimately saves the client time, and can even increase their happiness. Time saved on generic daily maintenance tasks equals more time to spend on your personal and professional priorities and less panic when examining your to-do list.
Our top tips for deciding which personal tasks to outsource include:
- shifting your focus to the hours you’re saving instead of the specific tasks your PA is doing;
- thinking in terms of daily operations;
- and collaborating with your PA on your personal priorities.
For example, you can save up to an hour of your time when you assign your daily (or weekly) laundry-folding duties to your PA. Instead of stressing over unfinished work projects or missing yoga class while you’re stuck in the laundry room, collaborate with your PA to lead your most efficient (and stress-free!) life.
How Pepper’s Personal Assistants Can Help Reduce Your Stress
At Pepper’s Personal Assistants we offer a great resource for helping you fight back against stress. A personal assistant can help take a lot off your plate. This includes meal planning, paying the bills, running errands, grocery shopping, and more.
Interested? Visit our website to learn more about our services.
We’re ready to help you regain your time, reduce your stress, and increase your happiness. Our personal assistants offer long-term, recurring household support in the Puget Sound Area.
Contact us today to get started.
