How a Personal Assistant Can Help This Holiday Season

a Christmas tree with a family in the background

With the holidays just around the corner, our normal workloads are about to quadruple in size and scope. Santa Claus may have an entire workshop of elves to help him get through the holiday rush, but how are all of us mortals south of the North Pole supposed to cope? 

One recent study shows that 60% of Americans feel increased stress and anxiety around the holidays. The hustle and bustle can be overwhelming, so you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for the help you need. But when friends and family are going through their own holiday stressors, who do you turn to?

While we may not have the magical powers required to make a sleigh fly, we do know the next best thing: a personal assistant who can make your life run smoothly. 

Here’s how a personal assistant can help you this holiday season.

[Related: 6 Signs You Need a Personal Assistant]

Shop for Gifts 

Once you’re done making a list and checking it twice, the hard work begins: braving holiday traffic, mall crowds and busy stores to pick up the perfect presents. 

But especially as you rush to complete your workload at the office in time for the holiday weekend — perhaps even putting in some overtime or working late nights — finding time to devote to gift shopping can be challenging. Besides, the free time you do have on weekends is precious and to be savored, not spent in a harrowing stampede of shoppers. 

Hand off your gift list to us, and we’ll handle the chaotic parking lots and long lines. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the real reason for the season — spending time with loved ones. We’ll load up the sleigh and shuttle the haul back to your home for wrapping (which we’re happy to help with, if you’d like!).

Delegate and Send Out Greeting Cards

How many times have you planned to send out old-fashioned holiday cards? And then before you know it, the season’s wrapping up — and you haven’t addressed half the envelopes or even purchased the cards? 

Your personal assistant can help you find the perfect greeting cards, gather names, address envelopes and ensure they’re all in the mail on time.

[Related: Do Successful People Outsource? The Answer Is Yes.]

Brave the Post Office and Mail Packages

The post office run can be a truly chaotic errand during the holiday season. Lines are often out the door, and in the ruckus it’s easy to forget to send out packages on schedule. 

Trust your personal assistant to gather all gifts headed to far-off friends and family and make sure they’re shipped on the dot. They’ll also brave the long lines and the mayhem of actually going inside the post office.

Book Lodging and Travel Accommodations

Are you planning on traveling for the holidays? 

A personal assistant can take the stress off booking lodging and travel arrangements. First, your assistant can sift through the endless hotel and Airbnb reviews to find you the ideal option. Next, they’ll do their best to snag you a flight for a decent price (and at a decent time).

Prep Before Events

Whether you’ll host an extravagant holiday meal with the entire extended family or have a few friends over for a small gift exchange, if you plan to open your home this season, chances are you’ve got a few to-dos before entertaining. 

Your personal assistant is here to lend a hand as you prepare everything from the menu to the house itself.

Got a few small pieces to finish off your festive decor scheme (wintry figurines, decorative pillows, wreaths, garlands or candles)? We’re happy to set them out on the couch, mantle, coffee table or elsewhere. 

While we’re at it, how about some help with grocery shopping and meal prep? We’re experts at chopping veggies for the stuffing and fruit for the pie.

Need someone at home to sign off on a special delivery package? Or maybe you need someone to water those poinsettias, put away the laundry and tidy up the living room before the guests arrive? You can count on us to complete tasks at home and beyond!

[Related: Pepper’s Personal Assistants’ Local Seattle Holiday Gift Guide 2021]

Lighten Your Seasonal Load

Between work obligations and social events, family gatherings and seasonal errands, your already-busy life gets about five times busier during the holiday season. 

Fortunately, you’ll find no better time to enlist personal assistant services. 

Your personal assistant can cover the time-consuming tasks that burden your week. We’ll drop off and pick up your party dress or suit from the dry cleaners just in time for that festive soiree. 

Hitting the road for a holiday meal at grandma’s house? We can take the car in for maintenance so you can safely navigate any wet or icy highways.

Perform Absentee Services

If you’ll spend the holidays at another destination, we can hold down the fort while you’re away. Here are just a few samples of how a personal assistant can help this holiday season while you’re away:

  • Picking up and/or organizing your mail, newspapers or other deliveries
  • Taking out any trash or recycling
  • Turning lights and electronics off or on
  • Completing light tidying (like sweeping, dusting or turning down bedding)
  • Monitoring your home’s temperature (in other words, running the heat if necessary for pets or houseplants that require a specific climate)
  • Running faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting
  • Restocking the fridge and having a meal ready for your return

A personal assistant can give you reprieve from worrying about your home while out of town. That way, you’ll be able to focus on relaxing and making lasting memories with those you love during the holidays.

[Related: All About Pepper’s Personal Assistants—and How We Can Help]

Relax This Holiday Season With Pepper’s Personal Assistants

Getting ready for the holidays should be exciting, not stressful. 

Embrace the warmth and merriment of the next several weeks and avoid the panic of last-minute preparations — Pepper’s Personal Assistants has your back.

Interested in learning more about how a personal assistant can help this holiday season? Contact Pepper’s today!

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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