To Learn or To Delegate?
How to know when it’s time to share the load.
Sure, you could do it yourself. But should you?
Our modern lives have left us with pretty diverse and interesting to-do lists. And resources like YouTube, MasterClass, and TikTok have made learning how to do everything on that list more accessible than ever. Yet, constantly being the one to do it all may not be the wisest choice. Because everything you do takes time and time is a non-renewable resource.
On any given day, a to-do list could include the following:
Set up accounting software and file taxes
Fix that leaky faucet
Plant a food garden
Get on the sourdough bandwagon
Install smart home devices
Patch the drywall
Edit the video from vacation
Plan biking trip through Italy
Life quietly asks us to become experts at everything. And every time a novel task lands on your plate, you face the same choice:
Do I learn this or do I give it to a pro to take care of?
At first glance, learning it yourself can feel responsible. Capable. Resourceful!
But here’s what I’ve noticed, both in my own life and in the hundreds of households I’ve supported: Trying to learn everything is one of the fastest paths to feeling time-poor.
Because learning takes more than time. It takes attention, energy, decision-making, and more mental tabs open. And it comes with significant opportunity costs.
Why we default to “I’ll just do it”
There are lots of reasons we take things on ourselves. Maybe:
you genuinely love learning new skills
it feels cheaper to DIY
you think it’ll be faster
finding help sounds like more effort than just doing it
you don’t trust someone else to do it “right”
or you simply feel like you should be able to handle it
All of that makes sense. In our bootstrappy culture, we’ve been taught that capable adults do it themselves (“my grandad built his house with his own two hands!”). But capable adults are also responsible for choosing where their energy goes. And now, the same tools that make learning how to do the thing easier have also made it easier to find someone with the right skills to take it off your plate.
What Mindful Delegation® really gives you.
Delegation doesn’t just benefit you. It’s an opportunity to support a skilled and dedicated expert with a job. If it turns out your friend has the right talents and is up for the task, you have the opportunity to collaborate and stitch the fibers of your community closer together.
Of course, delegation does help you by reclaiming your time but perhaps even more importantly, your attention. With this freshly harvested, you get to reinvest it in a more nourishing way. Whether that’s time with your kids, creative work, rest, connection with friends, having a greater capacity for thinking clearly, or for learning a more valuable skill that’s relevant to your life. That’s the real return. Not the mere productivity of outsourcing but the increase in capacity.
You ought not do it all.
Not every task needs your personal touch. Trying to do everything yourself doesn’t make you more impressive, rather it’s bound to deplete you. And there certainly aren’t any prizes for those who choose to do things the hard way.
An overstacked list of tasks you’re taking on will take you on a straight path towards overwhelm, rushed decisions, avoidable mistakes, and the constant feeling that you’re behind.
When bringing in a pro makes sense
Sometimes it’s obvious. If you need your wisdom teeth removed, please call the dentist.
But most choices are subtler. They live in that gray area of: “I could figure this out… but do I want to?” That’s where reflection helps.
How to decide where to invest your time and attention.
Instead of asking “Can I do this myself?”, play with asking:
Is this worth learning — or just possible to learn?
Do I actually want to know how to do this?
Could someone else do this faster or better because it’s already their expertise?
Would delegating create a little more breathing room in my life?
How much time and attention will this take me?
What would I rather be doing with that time instead?
That last question is the real clincher. For every moment you’re doing something, you’re inherently not doing everything else. So I encourage you to let this question weigh in heavily. Because surely there are matters that need tending that would be best done with your full and complete attention.
As a curious person myself and a chronic dabbler, trying on a new hat can be a lot of fun. But learning to be selective about when and what you collect on your tool belt is one of the best ways to ensure your attention is being put to the best use.
And remember, if you choose to learn it yourself and you find yourself way in above your head, you can always change course later on. But that time you put into it can never be regenerated.