If you have the money: delegate

As a person who has worked an eclectic array of jobs over the years to supplement my bohemian appetites, I am well versed in do-it-yourselfism. Hell, from college all the way until I was in my mid-twenties I kept one set of haircutting scissors with which to cut my hair. (Have I ever been a hairdresser? No! I just wore it long, straight, and parted down the middle, so every few months I would just chop an inch off the bottom.) This is a way of living that can become ingrained. Not only does it become almost abhorrent to spend money on something you can do yourself, but if it gets screwed up, you only have yourself to blame and you’re fairly certain you’ll do it better the next time.

My parents decided to change their pool liner on their own this year. My dad says it’s the worst decision he’s ever made.

Several years ago, I read an article about happiness. I haven’t been able to find that article since, but one thing that stuck with me was that if you had the money to outsource necessary activities that you don’t enjoy doing, pay someone else to do them so that you have more time for the things you enjoy. Dusting immediately came to mind. “If we ever make more money, I want to pay someone to clean the house,” I thought. I cannot concentrate in a messy space. It doesn’t bother Dean. This means that I’m usually the one hounding him to help me clean when I don’t even want to be doing it myself.

I brought it up more and more frequently as I became further entrenched in writing. “I would just rather be writing than dusting!” This year, when we were finally seeing our finances consistently in the green, I talked to him about it and he agreed we should try it out.

It’s been great. The house is consistently in a livable state of cleanliness and I can write instead of dusting the shelves. There are some people for whom this wouldn’t be worth it, but there are also some people who would drop what we spend on getting the house clean on a nice dinner out. I’m happy to eat in and have a professionally cleaned house. Not only has it taken a few tasks off of my to do list, but it’s taken them off of my mental checklist, which is just as valuable.

There are some things that I could delegate, but for one reason or another, it’s not worth it to me. An example is mowing the lawn. We have a fairly large lawn and it takes a good hour to mow it. We’ve had people come by with mowers and offer, but I always decline. I like mowing the lawn. One of the things I daydreamed about when we were making our plans to leave Chicago was having a lawn. I get to listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook while I mow outside in the sunshine. Then I get to take a refreshing shower and come out and gaze upon the stripes I’ve created in my nice little lawn.

Does this make me old? I don’t care. I like it. Actually, i think I may mow the lawn this evening or tomorrow. That might be fun.

One new and interesting thing I’ve recently begun delegating is exercise. I like exercise, I like working out, I like running, I like moving. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll know that I taught group fitness and yoga—as well as being a personal trainer—for a living for about a decade. As a result, I knew a lot about fitness and when the pandemic hit, even though my fitness career wasn’t sustainable, I was able to keep up my own workouts at home.

However, yoga fell by the wayside. I just don’t like teaching myself yoga. I just don’t. I also got older and was suddenly plagued with running injuries. When I got over my latest and started getting back into running, I hired a running coach. Even if you know what you’re doing, it’s very easy when you’re in your own head to say things like, “Whew, I’m dragging today. Maybe tomorrow should be a light day. Well… AM I dragging, or am I just lazy?” I didn’t need someone to push me, I needed someone to tell me when to chill out and someone who would program the ‘less fun’ types of runs into my workouts. You know, the ones that are essential, like intervals, but not as fun as just running for miles and miles at whatever pace you want. So far, it’s worked out great. Especially with all the illness I’ve been having. I tell my coach and my schedule is just adjusted. No arguing inside my head.

I also started taking a couple of yoga classes. This is more recent. Paying for fitness classes is not something I’ve had to do in a very long time. I believe there was a part of me that was also a bit afraid to show up and see how much I’d lost.

I haven’t lost that much. A little balance, which is to be expected after the ankle issues I’ve been having, but also makes me very glad I’m working it back in. And I forgot how much I enjoy yoga. I really enjoy not having to plan out classes, work in trade, or give up my spot in the room because a paying student trumps an employee taking a free class.

Let me emphasize once again that I realize that being able to do these things is not an option for many people. My main point is that if you do have any wiggle room, before you mindlessly splurge it on something that you feel lukewarm about, take a look at what you actually wish you had more time to do, and what you would willingly sacrifice to make that time, create that mental space, or take that healthy step. Paying a neighborhood kid to mow your lawn might free you up to cook up and at home dinner and a movie for your partner. Plus, the kid benefits by earning money toward a video game, or a guitar lesson, a special class, or whatever it is he’s working for.

If you’ve ever been the person willing to do those things for cash, you’ll know what I mean.