Shortcuts to Guilt Free Living, Right Now, Part 1

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt
So you want the key to better living? It’s simple. All you need is more time to do things you really want to do. The question is how to get that. Read on and you’ll learn the secrets and shortcuts right now.
As far as food goes, you don’t have to cook! I mean you don’t even have to microwave. I always figured that if I could have dinner ready in 3 minutes or less that was sufficient, but now I’ve learned I can eat rich and even eat right with no effort at all. Locate a favorite gourmet takeout. Some cities and areas have a takeout taxi with a group of restaurants being served. Another popular option today, especially for couples and families, is to consider hiring a personal chef. These professionals can come to your home and cook up a storm leaving you with a gourmet smelling home for a night, and great meals with no repeats for a week or even two. Today even your favorite grocer has ready made meals for those on the go or just those without the know-how. Check out the local gourmet deli and takeout for delicious solutions to any craving.
Give someone else your errands. That’s right, you can get your dry cleaning picked up and delivered door to door. Many pharmacies also offer delivery, or order online. You can even order your postage online these days, saving those agonizing trips to the post office and missing the chance of a truly postal experience. There are also concierge services independent of the luxury hotel chains that do the same sort of errands, ticket ordering, reservations and such. Giving up the so called “loose end” activities can really be a time saver.
Hire a maid service or a cleaning person. You deserve it! Surely your time is worth more than the $55-$100 it takes to have someone else spend 3-5 hours a week vacuuming, dusting, polishing, and scouring. Besides, given the choice between spending time with friends and cleaning, I'd be with friends, wouldn’t you? If it seems hard to justify because it is just you, have it done biweekly.
Greenery--you’ve got to have it to add life to every room, but oh the maintenance can be a challenge. It is also an important factor in your house’s curb appeal. Call in Blossom Boxes or any other quick fix solution for your live plant needs both indoors and out. They can establish the right mix of plants in attractive containers, and all you have to do is water (or have your maid water inside and your gardener water outside). You’d be surprised at what a difference this will make both visually and physically (plants clean the air), and how inviting your place will look. If you really are reluctant to do live plants, silk is fine, just make sure that the cleaning service of choice knows to spray these monthly with silk floral cleaner (no wiping necessary), so that they don’t wind up being dust trees.
The next shortcut for a better life involves hiring a handyman to get those nagging shores done! You know you’ve wanted to add crown moulding to the bedrooms upstairs, but you haven’t got the time or the talent. You know you need the deck restained and sealed. The shower is badly in need of regrouting, ugh. And, you’ve got to address that leak in the garage. Why not call someone to take care of these chores for you? You don’t have to do it yourself; you just need to get it done. There are any numbers of individuals ready to help. You can also use services from online or the yellow pages like Good Neighbor or Service Magic. They guarantee their work and only allow bonded and insured talent. Do you get anxious every time you travel about leaving Fido or Rover home alone? Or perhaps you wrestle them into the pet carrier (often a traumatic experience for you both) and haul them to the vet. Well, no more. Find a pet sitter that you like, who likes your pets and who is preferably bonded and insured. (Check those references, too.) It is much simpler and less traumatic to your pets to be under the care of a trusted pet sitter than to be boarded at the vet every time you travel. You’ll also be protecting your pooch’s health by keeping him away from the myriad of diseases that circulate at kennels. Most pet sitters will also pick up your mail, water your plants and turn on and off lights for your pet’s comfort and so that your house doesn’t appear to be uninhabited (a great safety measure!). Worry free travel is hard to come by, but this step can make a big difference.
In part 1 of this 2 part series, we’ve covered some very useful ways you can delegate the tasks in your life that you don’t have time to do (or just don’t want to do!). Remember, this is your life, and every minute that you spend doing things that drain you is holding you back from living your best life. In part 2 of this series, we’ll cover some additional ideas for streamlining your life by hiring talented professionals to do the things you aren’t inclined to do.