Would you pay $40 to feel happier? Most of us would, and if you put that money toward offloading your least-favorite task (like cleaning the bathroom), you’d have a double bonus: shining sinks and a shot of serotonin.
Surprisingly, research backs up this scenario and even goes one step further by putting a dollar value on happiness … something we’ve been told is impossible. One study shows that hiring someone to take on household tasks like cleaning, laundry, yard work, and painting can give you as much happiness as an $18,000 raise.[1] Why? Because most of us are so crunched for time that we neglect life-affirming activities (like spending time with loved ones or engaging in a hobby), which means reclaiming even small pockets of time back yields big emotional results.
But where should you start? The answer depends on you. What chores do you enjoy doing, and what tasks do you procrastinate on? If being out in the sun with your hands in the soil makes you feel connected to the earth, then keep on gardening. But if mountains of laundry send you into avoidance mode until a clothing crisis hits, then you’ve found where you need to outsource.
Here are ideas to consider:
1. Meal Prep and Grocery Delivery
Do you hate cooking, or do you actually hate grocery shopping and food prep? If it’s the latter, order your groceries online for curbside pickup and delivery, or go further with a meal prep service like Blue Apron, Home Chef, HelloFresh, or others. These services deliver the recipe, the ingredients (often pre-measured and prepared), and nutritional information, making it easy to get a high-quality meal on the table in less time than it would take to order a pizza.
2. Yard Work
If tending to your landscape sparks despair rather than joy, or if you have a black thumb instead of a green thumb, hire professionals to do the (literal) dirty work. Your yard is a huge part of your home’s curb appeal, so consider it an investment in your home’s value as well as a way to buy back some time. And if there are only parts of yard work you’d rather avoid, like mowing the lawn or raking leaves, there may be an enterprising young person you could show neighborly support to by offering them the job.
3. Household Chores
With the holidays coming up, you have meals to plan, decorations to put up, gifts to purchase, and more importantly, you may want to spend more time connecting with your family and celebrating the joy of the season. With all that going on, does it matter who scrubs the floors and washes the dishes? A housecleaning service can leave your home disinfected, fresh smelling, and looking its best, leaving you relaxed and ready for guests. Note: Since housecleaners will be in your home, perform due diligence before hiring a service. Make sure they are reputable and highly rated by customers.
4. Professional Home Organizer
You probably can’t afford Marie Kondo, but if you struggle to find a place for everything (much less get everything in its place), a home organizer can help you sort trash from treasure, categorize items in a way that makes it easy to find what you need, and help you create more storage, regardless of your home’s size.
5. Errands and Miscellaneous Tasks
The gig economy has created a whole new labor force to handle even the smallest (but time consuming) details of everyday life. Companies like TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Angi, and more can help you find people to repair home appliances, install ceiling fans, assemble or move furniture, and much more. Basically, if it’s a task that takes time to complete, there’s someone who will do it for you for a fee.
So, the next time you find yourself dreading a chore, flip the adage “time is money” to “money is time,” and consider spending a little money to get time for the things you love.
