Parents: Back-to-School Season Doesn’t Have to Mean Back-to-Stress
When the first bell rings at the end of summer, for busy working parents, it means so much more than the end of a nine-week break from school. It seems as soon as September rolls around, the shortening days close in on a landslide of seasonal commitments and back-to-school stress.
Then, add daily school drop-off and pickup, after-school chauffeur duties, homework help and the impending holiday rush to the mix of ‘round-the-clock career, home and social responsibilities.
Now you’ve got a recipe for stretching yourself too thin.
[Related: 6 Signs You Need a Personal Assistant]
For bogged-down parents who find themselves in need of an extra set of hands during this busy time, enlist a professional personal assistant (PA) to help pick up the slack. The best part? Your freed-up schedule makes room for more quality family time!
The trick is to get back into the swing of things before the holidays hit. You can use September and October to tackle your to-do list before Halloween gives way to the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas takeover. This is where your PA steps in to save the season.
Here are a few ways PAs can help lighten the load during the frenzied back-to-school season.
Meal Planning and Prep
Grocery shopping for dinner ingredients and preparing each component can eat up a lot of your spare time.
While you’re at work, hand off your shopping list to your PA. We’ll shop during non-peak hours and stock your kitchen with all the fresh and dry goods you need. We can also measure and chop vegetables beforehand, so all you have to do when you get home is assemble, serve and enjoy.
Our PAs can even pick up your favorite bottle of wine so you can pamper yourself with a glass once the kids are in bed!
As a result, you replace mealtime stress with relaxing personal time.
[Related: Burnout: What’s at Stake and What Can You Do About It?]
Scheduling
We can take care of calendar organization, including scheduling important dates:
- Upcoming doctor and dental appointments
- Yard services
- Car tune-ups
- Repair services
- Haircuts and beauty appointments
- Child and pet care arrangements
- Home delivery coordination and reception
Our PAs can also make sure that any school-related events — such as PTA meetings, field trips, concerts and other extracurricular activities — make it onto the calendar. That way, they’re easy for you to review. Never double-book again with the help of a PA.
Taking Care of the House in Your Absence
Flying out to visit the in-laws for the holidays? Your PA will take care of your home while you’re away — whether this means watering plants, cleaning up after the kitty, checking the mail, restocking the fridge or all of the above.
Event Planning
Hosting a holiday party or Thanksgiving dinner? Allow your sidekick to manage your invites and get a head start on the shopping.
Maybe your child wants a very specifically themed birthday party, and you don’t have time to research who exactly the Avengers are and what kind of cupcakes Iron Man is into. A PA can take the reins and work with your budget to plan an unforgettable event.
[Related: Do Successful People Outsource? The Answer Is Yes.]
Shopping for School Supplies
It can seem that each year, school supply lists keep getting longer and longer. And because every parent out there needs to get those items, navigating busy stores can take a lot more time than it needs to.
Pass off these lists to your PA. They’ll grab all the notebooks, pens, pencils, tissues, and crayons your kid will need this year.
Pet Care
With the increased activities of fall, one or two family members may feel a bit neglected. Let your PA make sure your furry, four-legged friends get enough care and attention on those extra-busy days when you aren’t home that much.
Our PAs can guarantee your animals are happy and entertained. They’ll feed, walk, make vet appointments and give extra belly rubs.
Balancing Career and Home Life
Own a small business? Wrapped up in a full-time consulting job? Staying late at the office as business picks up during the fall and winter?
With a PA to take care of errands, chores and home life details, you can focus your energy on workday operations for maximum success — and use your hard-earned time off to relax for once.
[Related: Case Study: How One Mom Got Back Her Time]
Relax This Fall With the Help of Pepper’s Personal Assistants
If you’re thinking of starting your PA journey, contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants today. Let’s get started!
Want to learn more? Check out the best interview questions to ask a PA, our advice for getting started with your PA and the five apps we recommend for making back-to-school time a bit easier.
Featured image via Pexels
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