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In today's fast-paced world, balancing work, family, and personal time can be challenging – but it's a challenge that's becoming more common than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62.3% of married-couple families with children under 18 included two working parents in 2021.
When both parents are busy earning a living, it can be hard to keep up with a hectic household. That's where outsourcing can be a smart solution for busy parents. By delegating tasks such as housecleaning, childcare, meal prep, car cleaning, and yard maintenance to professionals, you can reduce stress and create more time for the things that truly matter – like spending precious time with your family.
Allyse Jackson, founder of Beehive Meals, knows a little something about outsourcing. She started Beehive Meals to help busy parents simplify mealtime while still providing their families with nutritious and tasty food. As a busy parent herself, Jackson recommends delegating several high-stress tasks to the professionals:
Housecleaning
A working paper from Harvard Business School compiles several studies showing that couples who outsource tasks such as cleaning or cooking experience less stress in their marriages. "For couples who do not make time-saving purchases, higher stress levels are associated with spending less quality time together which in turn undermines relationship satisfaction," the paper reads.
As one of the least popular household tasks, cleaning is everyone's favorite to outsource. Hiring a professional cleaning service can save you time and energy.
To find a reliable cleaning service, ask friends and family for recommendations, or use platforms like Care.com or Angi to search for reputable providers in your area. Be sure to check reviews, compare prices, and communicate your specific needs to ensure a positive experience.
Childcare
Every parent wants to be there for their kids around the clock, but that's not always possible—or practical in today's world. Finding the right childcare solution is crucial for working parents—or just plain busy parents. If your kids are younger than school-age, you may want to enlist the help of a daycare center, preschool, nanny or babysitter.
To find the best fit for your family, you'll want to consider location, hours of operation, cost and, of course, the caregiver's experience and qualifications. If you're looking for a convenient and cost-saving option, consider a nanny share arrangement, where two or more families share the cost of a single caregiver.
Meal prep
"I can't wait to get home and cook a healthy meal for my family," said no tired, overworked parent ever. That's exactly why Jackson founded Beehive Meals. With delicious, healthy meals delivered right to your doorstep once a month, you can have 10 (or more, if you use leftovers!) meals all ready to go. Just pop them in the slow cooker before you leave for work, come home, and you've got a nutritious dinner that's hot and ready.
Car cleaning
If your family lives in the car, well, it probably shows. And getting around to regular cleaning and maintenance can feel downright overwhelming. That's where mobile cleaning services (and even mobile oil change or brake maintenance!) can be a huge relief. Jackson personally recommends Sunny, which offers a la carte services or subscription pricing so you can keep your car looking good no matter how busy you get.
Yardwork
There's just something about coming out of a busy week only to spend your weekend raking leaves and mowing the lawn. If you'd rather save your weekends for, well, anything else, you're in good company.
Outsourcing yard maintenance can significantly reduce the time and effort spent on tasks such as mowing, pruning, and fertilizing, allowing you to focus on your priorities. While you can find landscaping companies in spades, Jackson's favorite option is recruiting a neighborhood teen who'd like to make some extra cash! Chances are you'll both love the arrangement.
Take the stress out of your monthly meal prep
Running a household these days is no easy task. That's why outsourcing tasks is critical to finding that balance between work, family and personal time. But with these tips—and a little help from services like Beehive Meals—keeping your family and home thriving is easier than you think.
Signing up for Beehive Meal deliveries is easy. All you have to do is pick a delivery date within your county and select your meal size. On delivery day, Beehive Meals will text you a reminder that your food is on the way and your meals will be delivered in an insulated cooler, which is yours to keep.
The delivery includes 10 freezer meals complete with cooking instructions and nutritional information. You can opt for a one-time delivery or save 10% by signing up for a monthly subscription. You don't have to commit to every month, you can change the frequency to every two or three months and still take advantage of the 10% discount.
Visit beehivemeals.com today to check out the weekly menu and see what's cooking!
