Ashley Grant on LinkedIn: Time-pressed, but still trying to squeeze in those mental and physical… (2024)

Dirty little secret: Your part-time housekeeper is not a "set it and forget it" solution. Here's the associated admin reality no one talks about...Over 18 years, I've employed nearly a dozen part-time household staff. From childcare to house cleaners, outsourcing routine tasks has been a crucial time-saver.Initially, I thought the hard part of outsourcing was just onboarding and training:• Teaching your routines and preferences• Setting schedules that work for everyone• Explaining product choices and usageMost of us expect to devote time to this process.But here's the kicker: your work doesn't end when your helper arrives. In fact, it's just beginning.Below is a list of ongoing housekeeper admin I've stumbled upon over the years. Keep these extras in mind so you can plan ahead when outsourcing:1. Non-Routine Task Management• Keep a running list of one-off jobs, such as areas needing infrequent attention (e.g., cobwebs on light fixtures, dusty HVAC/refrigerator vents)• Prioritize only 1-2 additional tasks per visit, without overwhelming2. Family Cooperation• Remind family to tidy before cleaning day (I text my older kids the night before)• Coordinate bedroom access and kitchen closure times3. Supply Management• Train staff to flag low supplies (hand soap, paper towels, cleaning products)• Restock in organized, accessible areas4. Equipment Maintenance• To maximize helper time spent cleaning, deep clean tools yourself (change vacuum filters, clean steamer chambers)• Schedule quarterly maintenance checks• Replace or repair equipment as needed5. Schedule Coordination• Manage shift changes due to holidays, vacations, or sick days• Communicate schedule changes well in advance6. Quality Control & Relationship Management• In the course of your week, spot check to verify your standards are maintained• Provide constructive feedback, when needed• Recognize and appreciate good work• Value their contribution and maintain a positive rapport, helping them out in their lives where you are able7. Payroll & Admin• If possible, use a payroll service to simplify paychecks, taxes, reports, and compliance• Adjust paychecks for missed days and special requests• Distribute W-2s and any necessary reports your helper may requestThe takeaway? Household help is invaluable, but it does require active, ongoing management and back-office admin.It's not exactly the "set it and forget it" we would all desire.So when you outsource, keep these ongoing admin tasks in mind—and get your family involved, too, where possible. None of these tasks take up too much time, so they're ripe for habit-stacking. Establish check-ins for them as part of your ongoing routines. You'll create a smoother, more efficient household that maximizes the benefits of having personalized assistance.

Ever feel like you need a PhD in Googling just to pick a preschool? Try these 3 other approaches instead for your next household research project:The problem with Google—it's a time sink:When my twins were ready for preschool, I naively thought I'd send them to the popular spot in town. Spoiler alert: It wasn't that simple.As a mom of preemies with developmental delays, I wanted a hands-on team providing individualized attention to help my twins catch-up to their peers.That trendy preschool? After visiting, it felt more like crowd control than personalized care.Cue the research rabbit hole: endless Googling, checking websites, and cross-referencing reviews.My solution came unexpectedly. While chatting with my twins' occupational therapist, she mentioned a perfect program—albeit a bit of a drive. We visited and ultimately enrolled—and it was the best decision for our family.But by starting with Google, I had wasted too many hours.Sound familiar?If you're nodding, you're not alone. As parents, we're constantly tackling big household projects—from finding a great local pediatrician to installing that organized garage shelving system.But today there are smarter alternatives to going down the Google rabbit hole. Here are 3 approaches I'd use instead:1. Tap Your Trusted NetworkAsk 3-5 experienced local friends or trusted allied pros for their top picks.• Pros: Quick, personalized advice• Cons: Their preferences may not match your unique needs2. Use AI Research Tools (likePerplexity.ai)Engage in a dialog to refine your search with customizable criteria• Pros: Faster than Google, provides source links, can rank order options• Cons: Requires $20/month Perplexity Pro upgrade, needs ongoing dialog to refine your search criteria, requires fact-checking3. Hire a Fractional Household Executive Assistant (like Ashley Chang's Sundays)Employ experienced Household EAs to research for you• Pros: Expert research skills for household issues, manages entire process including scheduling visits• Cons: Costs about $45/hour with a 5-hour monthly minimumBottom Line:Thorough research is crucial for important family decisions and costly projects. By choosing the right approach for your specific project, you can make informed decisions for your family without sacrificing too much of your precious time.What's your go-to tactic for household research? Share in the comments below!

You're a pro at planning your workweek, but home projects? They're time bandits. Why?Take summer camp research. You:• Plan for 2 hours• Consult 3 friends (yielding 3 different answers)• Compare websites of all 3 (unsure exactly what you need)• Book tours with the top 2→4 hours later, and you haven't even put down a deposit.Surprise! Welcome to Hofstadter's Law: Everything takes longer than you think, even when you account for Hofstadter's Law.In other words, even if you bake in delays, projects still take longer.As parents, anytime we're tasked with making a new decision for our kids that could affect our child's:• safety• well-being• developmentWe feel doubly responsible to get it right.→ As a result, making a decision is likely to take longer than we expect.That's OK.It's part of the many unknowns of parenthood where just about everything is a new thing, especially your first time around.So when planning important family projects, estimate your time…then 2x-3x it. You'll need to accommodate those inevitable learning curves.And just when you think you've got it down? Boom! New phase, new challenges.(Image credit: Pejman Milani)

68% of people don't use a password manager, leaving their digital lives vulnerable (Pew). As a busy mom, I've found a digital Swiss Army knife in 1Pasword to safeguard our family's online world. Here's why it's a tool rely on daily:1. One master key unlocks everythingGone are the days of reusing weak passwords. 1Password helps you create uncrackable codes for every login. The best part? I only need to remember ONE master password.→ Pro tip: Make your master password a phrase you'll never forget, like "ILoveMy3KidsMore!Than!Coffee!"--2: It's everywhere I need it to beUnlike built-in options, 1Password works seamlessly across all devices and platforms. Whether I'm using Safari or Chrome, on my laptop or phone, our secure info is always at my fingertips.→ No more frustrating searches through Keychain to find a specific password when it's not readily available.--3. Family sharing made easy (and safe)With the family plan, I can securely share passwords with my partner and kids. From Netflix to Amazon, I control who sees what. Need to give someone one-time access? It's just a tap away.→ This feature alone has eliminated so many "Mom, what's the password?" interruptions.--4. It's not just for passwords1Password is our digital vault for sensitive "Micro-Data": passport details, driver's licenses, credit card and bank account numbers, and even home security codes. All encrypted, organized, and instantly accessible.→ No more digging through drawers when you need important info ASAP.--5. Security I trustWith end-to-end encryption and regular security audits, 1Password hasn't been breached yet. Plus, the Watchtower feature alerts us to potential risks, keeping us one step ahead of threats.→ As a mom, I have enough to worry about. It's nice to cross "getting hacked" off that list.--In today's world, we need secure access to our information all day long. I've found 1Password to be an indispensable tool for our family.

Parenting without a job description is like driving without GPS—yet most of us do exactly that every day. Here are 2 books that give us the map and signposts we need to navigate our family responsibilities:You've got job descriptions for work, but for parenting? Typically, we make it up as we go.Julie Morgenstern's "Time to Parent" takes a stab at providing a big picture, carving out our parenting responsibilities into two key areas: PART & SELF.Eve Rodsky's "Fair Play" (book and card deck) zooms in on the details, identifying 100 task areas that parents typically manage. Rodsky's goal is to help couples divide these duties more equitably.Both authors share a crucial insight: understanding and managing parental roles is key to maintaining balance in your life.Their frameworks offer ways to fulfill your family obligations without losing yourself in the process.Here's how these 2 frameworks align:1. PART (Morgenstern): Your role in relation to your childrenP - Provide: Meeting the basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, safety, education, and money• Rodsky's task cards: Cash & Bills, Money Manager, Home Purchase/Rental, Health Insurance, Estate Planning & Life Insurance…A - Arrange: Managing household logistics to keep it running smoothly, including schedules, transportation, and household operations• Rodsky's cards: Calendar Keeper, Meals, Groceries, Cleaning, Laundry, Home Maintenance, Transportation (Kids), Bedtime Routine…R - Relate: Engaging your kids on a personal level through quality time, listening, and play• Rodsky's cards: Fun! & Playing, Weekend Plans (Family), Birthday Celebrations (Your Kids), Gestures of Love (Kids)…T - Teach: Imparting values, life skills, and discipline• Rodsky's cards: Values & Good Deeds (Kids), Hard Questions, Spirituality, Discipline & Screen Time…2. SELF (Morgenstern): Taking care of yourselfS - Sleep: Ensuring you (as parent) get adequate restRodsky's cards: Middle-of-the-Night Comfort…E - Exercise: Maintaining regular physical activity for well-beingRodsky's cards: Self-Care (Her), Self-Care (Him)…L - Love: Nurturing relationships with a partner, friends, and extended familyRodsky's cards: Marriage & Romance, Adult Friendships (Her/Him), Extended Family…F - Fun: Pursuing your hobbies and personal passionsRodsky's card: Unicorn SpaceTogether, these books chart a course through the complex landscape of modern parenthood, helping you navigate daily challenges and long-term goals.With these tools, you're better equipped to steer your family ship, balancing everyone's needs—including your own.

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Confession time: As a recovering perfectionist, I used to reinvent the wheel for every family-related decision.When my twins first attended peer birthday parties, I thought each gift had to be unique.Result: I frittered away too much time at the local toy store, looking for the perfect fit.This quest for the optimal extended to everything: from pediatricians to preschools to party planning.After another exhausting birthday party for my youngest (complete with a "Piggy Cake"), I had a lightbulb moment:Why was I starting from scratch every single time?I needed to simplify these recurring decisions to save my sanity (and time).So I started looking for areas in our family life where we could establish routines and stick to them.Over time, I identified 15 key areas where consistency made a big difference:1. Enrolled all kids in same school2. Choose same summer camp through middle school3. Maintained same extracurriculars and coaches before high school4. Put all kids on same sleep schedule through kindergarten5. Served same weekday breakfast6. Rotated 6-9 reliable weeknight dinners7. Reused birthday party venues across kids8. Established age-appropriate annual gift themes for kids; used gift cards for teachers9. Selected 1-2 go-to brands for kids' clothing basics10. Set up automatic delivery for household staples11. Kept consistent holiday meals and traditions12. Hosted annual friend gatherings with same format13. Returned to familiar vacation spots, with reusable packing lists14. Stayed with the same pediatrician, dentist, and orthodontist for all kids15. Retained the same trusted home maintenance providersBottom line: From big decisions to daily routines, putting recurring activities on rinse and repeat frees up your precious mental energy for the countless other demands of family life. It's not about cutting corners—it's about working smarter to be a better family manager.

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I graduated from Yale in the 1990s:• Yale, 1990s: Average GPA ~3.4 vs Yale, today: Average GPA ~3.8 (NYTimes)Sure, these kids today are smart, but are they that much smarter? My experience today with University of Chicago (via my kids)• Twin sons: Rising juniors• Daughter: Incoming first yearMy boys tell me UChicago doesn't do grade inflation (at least in the courses they've taken). That's why I was so proud when one of my twins, James Grant, was named a Robert Maynard Hutchins Scholar (top 10% of the class) last week. It actually means something. And it goes on his transcript. He had to work hard to earn it—and now this honor means he can distinguish himself, at least on paper. I'm just hoping the market respects it, too. But I'm honestly not sure, in a grade-inflated environment.

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As parents, we instinctively know how to captivate our baby's attention amidst what psychology legend William James called their "blooming, buzzing confusion." We point to a bright red apple, "Apple!"—all else fades away.Yet, too often we let our own worlds become just as overwhelming.Picture this: You're deep in a work project, but your mind races:• soccer cleats• doctor's appointments• a leaky sink• dinner planning• your mother's birthday giftSound familiar?But remember: You've already mastered the art of focus—with your kids. You instinctively show them how to hone in on what's important in the moment.Now, apply that same know-how to situations when the outside world buzzes in to interrupt your focus.Productivity experts Cal Newport and Kourosh Dini both suggest a simple trick: jot these thoughts down to process later.Newport recommends a specific "WorkingMemory.txt" file on your computer (or a notebook offline). Dini advocates adding them to your "Inbox"—a space you've pre-arranged for gathering these thoughts in whatever way works best for you.The key? Make it a habit to review and process these notes later that day—maybe during a break or as part of your end-of-day shutdown routine.A daily review routine is what transforms this simple trick into a "set-aside" system you trust.Remember, you've got this—you're a parent, after all!

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What jolts you awake at 3 am? (We all know, it's not your disorganized sock drawer.) Most likely, it's the uncaptured tasks, thoughts, and concerns swirling in your brain. Here's what you can do about it:You already feel it: Running a busy household involves a constant stream of mental tasks and decisions.Your mind frequently juggles thoughts like:• What's the plan for dinner tonight?• When should I schedule Michaela's physical?• Are we a yes for the Scarborough's BBQ RSVP?• Which high school options should we consider for Ruby?Researchers call this process "mental labor," and it's built into your job description as your family's CEO.Mental labor is:• Constant: You never catch a break from these thoughts• Invisible: You’re often thinking about tasks while doing something else• Effort-Intensive: You're anticipating needs, solving problems, and making decisionsNow, mental labor is unavoidable.Yet too much can lead to "cognitive overload"— when your mind feels overwhelmed by competing demands.When you're feeling this overload, you might find yourself:• Staring blankly at your email inbox, unsure what to tackle next• Forgetting important dates or tasks, even though you're usually on top of things• Lying awake at 3 am, your mind racing with all the things you need to doWhile you can't completely eliminate mental labor, you can reduce it and learn strategies to prevent cognitive overload.One effective solution? Planning.Psychologist Roy Baumeister found that making specific plans for future tasks reduces how much people think about them. This planning helps free up mental resources for other activities.Enter: The to-do list.A to-do list is more than just a memory aid—it's a practical tool for implementing Baumeister's findings in your daily life.When you capture a task with specific details (what, when, where), you're essentially making a plan. This allows your brain to stop actively thinking about that task, reducing your cognitive overload.Now, a to-do list isn't just about jotting down tasks.It's about creating a trusted system to offload ALL tasks from your mind. This concept is central to David Allen's popular productivity method, detailed in his 2001 bestseller "Getting Things Done."My opinion: A well-managed digital to-do list system is your best tool to handle the mental labor of managing your household.Jot tasks down, trust your system to tell you when to come back to them, and those 3 am thought spirals might just become a thing of the past.

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