Are you ready to go from Control Freak to Outsourcing Life Admin Ninja!

It’s not a crime to like things to be done to a high standard. The way I see it; if you’re going to do something, then you might as well do it right.

But when it came to life admin, I couldn’t see just how much pressure I was putting on myself, or how this incessant need to always be in control was proving counter productive. I had to be the perfect parent, have a spotless house, maintain a healthy lifestyle, be a good wife/friend/daughter/sister/mentor [insert all the various roles we play each day].

The truth is, no one can do everything – at least, not perfectly.

Something had to give – but what? It definitely wasn’t going to be time with my family. And it certainly wasn’t going to be my social life – my friends keep me sane! It simply wasn’t an option to neglect my health. So how about outsourcing life admin…

The Art of Outsourcing Life Admin

If I was going to get some precious time back and start living my life the way I wanted, I had to outsource the day-to-day time-consuming admin of my life.

Yes, it did take some time to perfect the art of outsourcing life admin, and yes, I did struggle initially to let go and allow somebody else to do it. But once I did, I can’t tell you how much of a life changer it was. Having more time to spend with my family, and on the fun things in life, has really increased the quality time we have together.

When we were asked by Journalist Anna Tyzack from The Telegraph to help her tackle her life admin so she could write an article on it, we were overwhelmed with positive feedback and enquiries from those who were excited about getting time back to spend with their families. I mean, who wouldn’t want more time to do the things that they truly enjoy doing?

Breaking Down the Misconceptions

Surprisingly, Anna received some cutting remarks for choosing to outsource life admin. These people had missed the point completely. And it’s really sad to see people trying to guilt-trip someone who is trying to make the most of their time when they have such a busy life.

Because it’s absolutely nothing to do with being too lazy to do it yourself. Or worse still, shirking your parental responsibilities. In fact, it’s got everything to do with putting your family first, making sure they get the best of you when you are available. I should know – in my control freak days, I was always trying to juggle too much and making myself and everyone around me unhappy with my lack of time.

Luckily, I realised that delegation is the key to living a far happier life and you’d be amazed just how many things I now delegate to make sure I have time for my family and friends.

If you’re still not convinced about outsourcing life admin, ask yourself this: Are you absolutely the only person capable of booking your family’s appointments, organising an online food shop, arranging your social life and sourcing gifts? Is there really nobody else with the skill set to order your kids’ school uniform, arrange a boiler service, research your next weekend away and monitor your inbox?

The Value of a Virtual Assistant when it comes to outsourcing life admin

I bet you wouldn’t think twice about using a virtual assistant in your work life, would you? And often those same skills are just what you need in your personal life. In fact, for many clients, we take care of both.

I’m the perfect example of this with my own VA, Laura. I recently had a last-minute trip to Cornwall which was part work, part pleasure. Laura rearranged my diary, knowing that I had a six-hour drive to get there, and I was happy to do any of my calls in that time. Next, she packed my work into the early mornings so that I had the afternoons free for some fun, and finally, she made the bookings and arrangements I needed to enjoy my free time there too.

I can honestly say that at the start of my journey, when I was trying to do it all, I could never have imagined anyone would be able to do things as well as she does. When plans change, she knows what to put in my diary, what she can cancel and what needs to be rearranged.

This is how I know I’ve got things right, by spending time at the start showing Laura how I like things done – she just knows everything now and is kind of inside my head (which she’d probably say is quite a scary place to be!) She knows what my kids like, what we need arranging for the family, and even what gifts to source for family members.

Priorities: Making Time for What Matters

For me, it’s simply about priorities – I can’t be all things to all people, and still do everything I need to get done in a week. And I’m certainly not going to apologise to critics for how much easier it makes my life.

At Vi-VA, we’re experts at outsourcing life admin. We know we can take it off your hands and do things just the way you’d like them done (in fact, many clients admit we actually do it better!).

So if you’ve been ignoring the fact that you’re reaching crisis point and need some help, or you’ve been struggling with that classic ‘mum guilt’ that we all know stops us doing things for ourselves, why not book in a free consultation to see just how affordable delegating your life admin could be?

As Anna notes, ‘compared with many luxury services, hiring a life admin is relatively inexpensive,’ and the time you regain with your family is priceless.