Five tips on how to outsource the boring bits of your life

HATE running errands? Organising your garage? Cooking dinner? Well there’s good news. You can outsource all the boring bits of your life.

Girl relaxing

LET’S face it. In life there are wonderful things that you wouldn’t miss for the world, like parties, Christmas dinners, family holidays and watching your daughter’s netball grand final.

And then there’s the boring bits of life, which frankly, we could happily leave and never give a second thought.

These “boring bits” are easy to identify, because they’re usually the jobs that you sigh or grumble about.

So how can you outsource these mundane elements of your existence and make more room for the pillow forts in the loungeroom and happy hour at the pub?

1. Get a virtual PA.

Websites like myvirtualworkforce.com.au, elance.com and odesk.com all offer virtual office administration services — meaning you hire a freelance PA who works from their home anywhere in the world and corresponds via Skype, email and phone with you.

You can give virtual PA’s tasks such as making calls and booking appointments, emailing clients, sending cards/correspondence, bookkeeping, online research, travel research and data entry.

Virtual PAs can cost between $15/hour and $80/hour, depending on where they live.

When it all gets too much, get a virtual PA.

2. Pay someone to stand in line for you

It’s a novel idea, but why not pay someone to wait in line at the Apple store for the latest iPhone release for you, while you watch a movie or go for a run?

Airtasker.com is a website that allows you to hire help whenever you need it. No job is too small for an airtasker. They can wait on the phone on hold for you, pick up your dry-cleaning, build your Ikea furniture, wash and walk your dog, move your lounge or fix your laptop. Easy.

3. Get the experts to do the hard stuff

Need a logo or a quick photoshop job? Want advice on SEO marketing or a mobile app? Get an expert to do it.

Websites like fiverr.com or freelancer.com.au let you hire professionals on a one-time or contract basis for small creative jobs. And they’re a lot cheaper than hiring someone at a major company.

On fiverr.com all tasks cost only US$5 and on freelancer.com.au workers bid the lowest price for an advertised job, so you’re guaranteed to get a bargain rate.

Is the pressure to be creative starting to drain you? Get other people to do the hard thinking for you.

4. Hire a personal shopper

Use this when you’re stressed about next week’s dinner party and have nothing to wear. There are numerous personal shoppers at your fingertips and eager to help.

With appointments taking place face-to-face or through online platforms such as Skype, you should be prepared to answer questions regarding your hobbies, style preferences and even favourite colours. After that, just relax, as your personal shopper shops the trends and delivers tailored outfits back to your doorstep.

Pay someone to do your shopping for you.

Websites like www.shopbink.com and peopleperhour.com offer personal shopping services on a one-time or routine basis. You could hire someone to zip out to the end-of-financial year clearance sales to find you that pair of suede ankle boots, or even hire someone your size to try on dresses and email you photos.

Also, it’s worth noting that major supermarkets have online shopping functions, and your virtual PA (remember, you have a PA now!) could input your shopping list onto the store website and have the groceries delivered by 5pm that day.

Outsource your life, and this could be you.

5. Get a cook for a dinner party

A common mistake many people make when hosting a party, is trying to cook and host at the same time. They find themselves in the kitchen all night, washing dishes and hastily spooning chopped tomato onto tiny croutons to make rustic bruschetta canapés.

Meanwhile they’re missing out on conversations, 21st speeches and hilarious video tributes.

The answer? Hire a home chef or caterer for the night. Websites like atyourtable.com.au and foodconnect.com.au are a good place to start.

Do you outsource elements of your life? Tell us in the comments below.

Originally published as Five tips on how to outsource the boring bits of your life