For most of my career, as I’ve given advice to the self-employed, I’ve urged delegating, particularly in the arena of the home. Let go of laundry, cleaning and other jobs someone else can perform at a lower wage. That way you can put your best talents toward the highest dollar amount value for how you spend your time. Rather than using your $100-$500-an-hour expertise on manual labor, pay someone else to perform those tasks and put your energy and creativity into earning in your desired area of expertise. This is a fundamental principle of entrepreneurship.
Well, that’s all been turned upside by the pandemic which is keeping us inside our homes and not allowing others to enter. I’m not proud to admit that, having given my twice-a-month cleaning lady an extended paid leave, I’m now faced with cleaning my own bathroom. I had to ask a friend how to accomplish this task. Although I’m not going to share a photo of my completed work, I am proud to say that my mirror is back in the reflection business and my tiles are spic and span.
But here’s the thing: housework, if done correctly, will kill you. Where that used to get a big laugh, it’s not so funny in the current atmosphere. Although I do recommend that you lower your standards. Must the bath towels be folded in equal thirds? Does the dishwasher have to be stacked YOUR way? Can you let go of your Martha Stewart perfectionism for the duration? This world-wide crisis is shining a strong beam on how we choose to live.
The way I’m getting through my shelter-in-place duration is to stay close to friends and family, purchase what I need (and no more), take care of my clients, and maintain my mental and physical health one day at a time.
For you, that may mean occasionally increasing your kids’ screen time on devices, binging every once in a while on Ben & Jerry’s or Netflix, or allowing the bed to be unmade one day a week. Whatever is required for YOU to feel okay about yourself in the day. It’s all we’ve got. Of course, hold onto the jobs you relish – cooking, child care, and or cleaning, if that’s your thing. Most important is to maintain your sanity, optimism and spiritual well-being for these 24 hours.
Tomorrow, you can make a different decision.
I’ve always done my own cleaning- I was taught how as a kid. I find it to be similar to taking a walk or a bike ride (which I also do regularly) in that the routine motions allow the mind to wander freely. So, ideas come, to-do lists form and I also feel good about my space when I’m done 🙂
@Heidi It makes so much sense to teach and empower kids to learn these basic skills. I can see how disabling it has been for me (well, that’s a bit of an overstatement), but I can correct your grammar with the best of them. Different life skills valued by different cultures…
Lovely Jane, as always. I miss you and your beautiful spirit, clarity and support. Virtual xo
Louise
@Louise I miss you as well. Thank you for this. I hope that Cafe Louise is thriving helping feed people with curbside delivery through this pandemic time.
Hahahah Now that no one can enter my house because of social distancing I can relax my neatnik Virgo tendencies and allow my house to be a bit messy and not so cleano!
Trying on how that feels and noticing how much I usually do for appearances sake, or how others may judge me if my bed is unmade or my entry way littered with shoes and slippahs in a pile instead of neatly lined up on the rack!?
@Annie. Ah, quite a respite from others’ opinions of you! Congrats on relaxing your beatnik tendencies.