How to Reap the Benefits of Outsourcing Without Spending a Penny

Outsourcing is a luxury and a privilege. There, I said it.  

I run two businesses that provide outsourced services for busy people, but I have to acknowledge that when it costs money, it’s simply not accessible to everyone.

At Heron House Management, we're mindful of that reality, but we’re also deeply committed to our mission: making the invisible labor visible and helping busy people rebalance their mental load at home.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to start lightening your mental load without spending a penny. Here are a few methods for attacking your overwhelm on a $0 budget. 

1. Act Like Your Own Assistant

Have you ever noticed it’s often easier to help a friend with a task than to tackle your own? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve helped friends clean out their car, organize their closet, or tackle a mountain of dishes—meanwhile, my own home is severely neglected. 

The good news is you can use that same psychology of the benefits of helping others on yourself.  

Block off 30–60 minutes on your calendar, and “cosplay” as your own assistant. Pretend you’re helping a friend: What would you do for them to ease their stress? Book their dentist appointment? Declutter their pantry? Knock something off their endless to-do list?

When you shift your mindset this way, the satisfaction of helping someone else kicks in—even if that "someone else" is you. And when you clock back in as yourself at the end of the hour, you’ll feel genuinely supported and cared for, because you showed up for you.

2. Work with an Accountability Partner  

If you have a friend who also struggles with personal projects, pairing up can make a world of difference.  

Sure, it might feel a little vulnerable or awkward at first—but trust me, you’re not the only one feeling this way. Many people would love the chance to have the mutual support.

Sometimes it’s as simple as sending each other a motivating text in the morning. Other times, you can schedule a co-working session—either in person at a coffee shop or virtually over Zoom—to tackle nagging to-do list items together. Start by stating your goals out loud then celebrate your wins together at the end. It’s amazing how much more you can accomplish when you’re cheering each other on.

3. Learn How to Ask for Help  

Building a support system (your "village") doesn’t just happen. It takes effort, intention, and a willingness to be a little vulnerable.

A lot of people assume villages are just something others are lucky enough to have—but the truth is, most strong support networks were built over time. And often, asking for help is the very first step.

We are community-minded creatures and we are inclined to help each other by instinct for survival. But with today’s nuclear family and misconceptions that we should be able to “do it all” ourselves, we can be a bit shy about reaching out.  

I find sometimes it’s easier for someone to respond to a direct request than to an open-ended offer. So if you find yourself overwhelmed and you know an extra set of hands could make a difference, don’t hesitate to reach out. That vulnerability not only lightens your load—it strengthens your relationships. And the mutual support carries on when you pay it back (or forward) to your community when someone needs your extra pair of hands. 

4. Make (and Track) Your To-Do List  

There’s real science behind the little dopamine hit you get when you cross something off a to-do list. Even writing something down just to immediately cross it off can give you a sense of accomplishment—and that momentum matters.

One of our favorite tips comes from podcast guest Mary Ellen Knoff, who recommends the "Three-A-Day" method in Episode 24 of our podcast De-Stress the Nest. She suggests you pick just three things to accomplish each day. It keeps your list manageable and achievable, helping you build consistency and confidence.

At Heron House Management, we use Asana to track our tasks. We label each task by status, priority and deadline, and use filters to stay focused on what matters most right now. This system allows us to streamline today’s priorities without losing sight of tomorrow’s bigger goals.