I love this post SO MUCH!! Not because I am a VA lol, but because I, too, have hired help occasionally. Even for the smallest of tasks, like organizing certain data I collect. It is so nice to be able to delegate and feel secure, knowing that somebody is doing as good a job as you would. I've also referred work to others whom I know would do a better job than I would. No shame in scratching someone else's back once in a while.
No shame at all! I give referrals to colleagues all the time. There is more than enough to go around - that's the thing nobody really talks about - instead, they want us to compete in a race to the bottom. That isn't how it works Shaneh's World!
I would agree with that outside of Substack but in this community, I find everyone to be so generous! We're all passing clients around to suit their interests.
When a client doesn't have the money to hire help, I like to ask them to review their to-do list for where they are "shoulding" all over themselves - I will bet there are things that you feel like you "have" to do that you can just let go of altogether.
As an example, I used to require myself that I hit inbox zero every day (GRRRR ARGGGH!), that self-imposed task was a massive energy leak. I got back so much of my time by releasing that requirement.
That’s true! I have a lot of organizational things I’d like to get done, but aren’t urgent, instead of doing the things I actually need to do to have consistent and stable work. With ADHD, it feels like all my tasks are equally urgent and it gets so overwhelming that I don’t do any of it and it then piles up.
I love this post SO MUCH!! Not because I am a VA lol, but because I, too, have hired help occasionally. Even for the smallest of tasks, like organizing certain data I collect. It is so nice to be able to delegate and feel secure, knowing that somebody is doing as good a job as you would. I've also referred work to others whom I know would do a better job than I would. No shame in scratching someone else's back once in a while.
No shame at all! I give referrals to colleagues all the time. There is more than enough to go around - that's the thing nobody really talks about - instead, they want us to compete in a race to the bottom. That isn't how it works Shaneh's World!
I would agree with that outside of Substack but in this community, I find everyone to be so generous! We're all passing clients around to suit their interests.
I’ve realized that I need help from an assistant (or 2), but until I’m able to find work, I’m doing my best to allocate my time more efficiently.
When a client doesn't have the money to hire help, I like to ask them to review their to-do list for where they are "shoulding" all over themselves - I will bet there are things that you feel like you "have" to do that you can just let go of altogether.
As an example, I used to require myself that I hit inbox zero every day (GRRRR ARGGGH!), that self-imposed task was a massive energy leak. I got back so much of my time by releasing that requirement.
If you can't delegate (yet) what can you delete?
That’s true! I have a lot of organizational things I’d like to get done, but aren’t urgent, instead of doing the things I actually need to do to have consistent and stable work. With ADHD, it feels like all my tasks are equally urgent and it gets so overwhelming that I don’t do any of it and it then piles up.