Burned Out? Start Delegating.

What Is Delegating?

For this post, delegating means asking (or paying) someone to do a task you could technically do yourself.

At work, delegation is a leadership skill. At home? It can feel like guilt.

Why It’s So Hard

There was a time I felt bad asking for help.
But I also felt bad if dinner wasn’t planned.
Bad if the dishes weren’t done.
Bad if I was playing with my daughter while thinking about everything else I “should” be doing.

Damned if I did, damned if I didn’t.

But I’m a mom with a full-time job and no family nearby. If I wanted to spend my time on what actually mattered, I had to learn to ask for help.

Why Delegating Is Worth It

1. Less Stress

There are only so many hours in a day. Spending them constantly trying to “keep up” is a fast track to burnout.

2. Being Present

My to-do list used to run through my mind 24/7.
When I worked, it wasn’t enough.
When I rested, it didn’t feel earned.

Delegating takes it off the list entirely and gives me back the moment I’m in.

3. A Healthier Marriage

There are plenty of things my husband (or a professional) can do just as well as I can. Letting go of tasks also meant letting go of resentment.

We divide by strengths:

He handles the heavy stuff (trash, restocking top shelves I can’t reach).
I handle detail-oriented organizing.
We rotate dishes, laundry, vacuuming.

No one wins if one person quietly drowns.

What Should You Delegate?

It depends on what you value.

Keep what you love. Offload what drains you.

Stay-at-home parent? Maybe hire a babysitter so you can work—or just breathe.
Work full-time? Maybe hire a cleaner or use a meal service so evenings are for your kids.
In a partnership? Trade tasks you hate for ones your partner doesn’t mind.

You might be suffering through something they’d happily take.

How to Delegate (Without the Mom Guilt)

Just Ask

If you need help, say it out loud. And when someone helps? Thank them.

My husband and I thank each other for everything—dishes, laundry, toddler breaks. Yes, it’s all “our responsibility.” Gratitude still matters.

Give Up Control

Maybe they don’t load the dishwasher your way.
Are the dishes clean? Then say thank you and enjoy not doing dishes.

Micromanaging cost me more peace than imperfect execution ever did.

We all have hills we’ll die on. Just don’t turn your house into a graveyard.

Put a Dollar Value on Your Time

I grew up poor. Hiring help felt extravagant—like something only rich people did.

But I wasn’t asking the right question:
Is this task worth my time?
Or am I undervaluing the most limited resource I have?

You’re not paying for clean floors.
You’re paying for an unhurried afternoon with your kid.

Your time on Earth is finite. Spend it on what matters.

Things You Can Delegate

Babysitting

Trying to cook while your toddler aims for a Darwin Award? I see you.

Laundry Service

Yes, someone can pick up your laundry, wash it, and bring it back. With a toddler going through three outfits a day, this is not lazy. It’s strategic.

Meal Kits

Meal planning used to eat up my Saturday mornings. Add gluten sensitivity and a toddler who won’t eat foods that have touched each other, and it became a full-time job.

Now I use a meal subscription.
They plan it.
They send exactly what we need.
Less food waste. Healthier meals.
And Saturday mornings are for the park.

Worth it.

Yardwork

Even growing up, this was the one thing we hired out. Ask around—there’s usually a teenager nearby who would love pocket money.

Delegating isn’t about laziness.
It’s about alignment.

Keep the parts of life that light you up.
Let someone else carry what doesn’t.

Thriving is a Strong Word