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04/17/12 | Uncategorized

5 Ways To Achieve Work-Life Balance (Hint: Outsource Errands)

From Laundry Locker to TaskRabbit, you can outsource as many trivial tasks as possible.
By Becky Cruze (Co-Founder, BeCouply)

Today, women have the opportunity to have it all: a high-powered career, fulfilling relationship, children and the HGTV-worthy home.

So what’s the problem? “Having it all” is much easier said than done. Sure, it might be possible to have the career, family and life you always wanted, but how do you juggle everything on your plate without losing your mind?

As the co-founder of BeCouply, a San Francisco-based startup that helps couples have epic social lives, I understand the struggle to find work-life balance.

Some days I get overwhelmed looking at my to-do list: write a post for the BeCouply blog, wash the dishes, revise our investor pitch deck, do the laundry, respond to customer emails, go grocery shopping … and that’s all before lunch!

So how do I relieve the stress? I remind myself that, while all of the tasks on the list need to get done, they don’t all necessarily have to be done by me. For example, it’s critical (at least at this stage) that it is me who revises our deck and replies to customers. In contrast, it is of no importance that I personally do the laundry; rather it only matters that somehow, some way, it gets done.

This brings me to one of the best lessons I’ve learned so far about achieving that idealistic work-life balance: Outsource as many trivial tasks as possible. There are already a ton of great companies that can take care of various chores for you, and it seems like new companies offering those services are popping up daily.

Here are just a few examples from my hometown of San Francisco — I’m sure wherever you live, there are companies just like them:

  • Laundry Locker — Laundry Locker will pick up your dirty clothes from your home or office and return them washed and folded. There won’t be any more time wasted at the laundromat!
  • Farm Fresh To You and LolaBee’s Harvest – Both of these companies offer farm-fresh produce delivered straight to your door. You can accomplish your grocery shopping and promote healthy eating without even leaving the house.
  • TaskRabbit and Postmates’ Get It Now — While these two companies have very different business models, both can help you with those pesky little errands. All you have to do is send their “runners” (people chosen for your tasks) to pick up the dry cleaning, buy milk at the store or simply mail your package at the post office.

Sure, using these services will likely cost you more money than doing the chore yourself. But, it’s important to remember that your time and sanity are incredibly valuable.

By enlisting the help of others to accomplish the trivial tasks on your list, you’ll have more time and energy for the people and activities that mean the most to you … and will be at least one step closer to achieving the work-life balance we all crave.

This post was originally posted at Minted Magazine.

Editor’s note: Got a question for our guest blogger? Leave a message in the comments below.
About the guest blogger: Becky Cruze is the co-founder of BeCouply, the mobile app that helps couples have epic social lives. Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Becky holds a B.A. in Political Communication and with Special Honors for her senior thesis on YouTube advertisements in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. Becky lives in San Francisco with her boyfriend and BeCouply co-founder Pius Uzamere. Follow her on Twitter at @beckyloveshugs.

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