I'm fortunate to have a good job that pays me to do interesting work 40-50 hours a week. However, I've come to realize the job leaves me a limited amount of free time and I have a seriously lengthy list of things I want to do in my life. Strange how this list keeps growing, not getting shorter?? This paradox has caused me to seriously rethink how I balance my WANTS with my NEEDS. I've gone back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to work less hours to free up more time to do my WANTS? While I think this will definitely be in my long term plan, I also have to consider that I support 2 amazing kids, which dials back some of my more grandiose ideas (at least for 6 more years, ha!) In lieu of a job/hours change, I've decided to take another approach in the short term. Namely, getting rid of all the shit that I don't love doing outside of work....
Topping this list? Cleaning my house. Especially the deep cleaning variety of cleaning. I keep a pretty tidy house, but if you touched my bookshelves, I'd have to rearrange things to cover up your fingerprints in the 1/2" layer of dust!!! I find it ironic that one of the very first pieces of advice I got upon entering the workforce with young children (from my female manager at the time) was to get a house cleaning service. Well... 15 years later? I'm taking that advice. And kicking myself in the butt for having not done it much much sooner. She starts next week and my bathrooms and baseboards are sooo excited to see her!!!!!
In relation to housekeeping, I've decided the following general upkeep items were worthy of my investment. Having a 2 dog household, my floors will be a tumbleweed-style collection of dog hair within a few days. Solution? Upstairs, I have a Roomba vacuum that I start before leaving for work and empty when I get home. Downstairs, I splurged and got a battery-powered Dyson stick vacuum which I run around after supper each night. Its easier and quicker than sweeping and it also doubles as a dog-exerciser, as they run to escape the oncoming machine?? Of course, when someone invents a dog vacuuming coat I can put on my constantly shedding lab, I will be buying that as a replacement to either of these options! ;o)
Online bill paying. This isn't a new time savings change for me, I have utilized this for years now but its definitely worth mentioning here. It ensures I don't miss payments, I don't waste unnecessary time at my desk/computer, and has a bonus of helping my credit score!
Hy Vee Grocery delivery service... This item? It has blown my mind! This was one of those chores that was never convenient for me. Since I only have kids half-time, I found I was in a constant state of either never having what I needed or having nothing period (unless you count coffee as food, which of course I do... but the kids, not so much.) With the change to ordering online and getting it delivered, I can coordinate this with meal planning ahead to ensure I have exactly what I need. And it helps cut down on impulse buys (previous grocery shopping was done at Target, and we all know I can't leave that store without $100 of items I didn't "need"). Its also allowed Isaac and Bella to sit with me real-time to put in their grocery requests. They hate going with to the store but they always complained when I didn't get the right things for them.... Problem solved! You get to pick your date of delivery and hour window. I've had delivery within 12 hours of ordering, SNAP! Best part, if you spend $100, the delivery is free! And they walk it in right to your kitchen counter, it is AHHHMMMMAAZZZINGGG!!!! So I always spend enough to get free delivery and then tip the guy the delivery fee ($5). Its worth EVERY FREAKIN PENNY!
If you have any other awesome tips/tricks for leaning out life, drop me a line! I'm always on the look out for further efficiency ;o)
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