Thank you! I love exploring new software, will definitely try out both to see what matches best.
I am my family’s EA,and apart from having a few systems in place my biggest ‘hack’ would be that my EA working tasks are limited to Wednesday mornings.
Throughout the week every admin or other mental load task goes through my filter: “Can this wait till Wednesday”?
And then either gets scheduled in on Wednesday (or has to be done right away).
On Wednesday morning I install myself with the best cup of coffee and do nothing else before I have reviewed, trimmed down, and tackled my list. - It’s amazing to see how many ‘important’ things turn out to be wiped off my list as ‘not needed’.
I love doing these type of tasks from a cute little terrace or beautiful café in the city so it feels like something to look forward to (call me crazy - but it works!)
Thank you Barbara for writing this review with such clarity. You didn’t just list features — you described the lived experience of outsourcing, which is what people actually need. I also really appreciated that you honored the founders and framed this as an experiment, not a takedown. It reads like advice from a friend who actually tried both.
The line “It’s not the work itself. It’s the decisions.” is so true it almost hurts. That’s the kind of sentence that makes someone exhale because it names what’s been invisible. The way you describe mental clutter — air filters, RSVPs, calendar cleanup — captures how the brain gets fragmented, not by big problems but by constant low-grade choice-making.
One angle I’d add: outsourcing isn’t only about time. It’s about identity. When someone else holds your tasks, you’re no longer the “container” for everything. That can be liberating — but also disorienting, because many high-achieving women have unconsciously used mental load as proof of love, competence, and worth. Offloading it can create a strange emotional vacuum: “If I’m not the one remembering everything, am I still the responsible one?” Your piece hints at this, but I think it’s a deep undercurrent worth exploring. Sometimes the hardest part of delegating is not logistical — it’s letting go of the belief that carrying everything is what makes you good.
Super thoughtful review Barbara! I've worked with a Faye Advisor for over 2 years now (household of 2 working professionals, 2 dogs) and have gotten help with insurance reimbursements, contact reordering, calling airlines to make changes and get refunds, calling dentist/doc to get an appointment. I also tried Duckbill. Fast but without a dedicated person nudging me, ball is back in my court and doing the final steps of a task slip...
Thank you! I love exploring new software, will definitely try out both to see what matches best.
I am my family’s EA,and apart from having a few systems in place my biggest ‘hack’ would be that my EA working tasks are limited to Wednesday mornings.
Throughout the week every admin or other mental load task goes through my filter: “Can this wait till Wednesday”?
And then either gets scheduled in on Wednesday (or has to be done right away).
On Wednesday morning I install myself with the best cup of coffee and do nothing else before I have reviewed, trimmed down, and tackled my list. - It’s amazing to see how many ‘important’ things turn out to be wiped off my list as ‘not needed’.
I love doing these type of tasks from a cute little terrace or beautiful café in the city so it feels like something to look forward to (call me crazy - but it works!)
I LOVE the idea of time blocking these types of tasks! But I need to know… what does AE stand for!?
Ha! 😅 I should start proofreading my comments. It should have been EA (executive assistant) .. let’s see if I can still edit it.
Okay now THAT makes more sense!!
Thank you Barbara for writing this review with such clarity. You didn’t just list features — you described the lived experience of outsourcing, which is what people actually need. I also really appreciated that you honored the founders and framed this as an experiment, not a takedown. It reads like advice from a friend who actually tried both.
The line “It’s not the work itself. It’s the decisions.” is so true it almost hurts. That’s the kind of sentence that makes someone exhale because it names what’s been invisible. The way you describe mental clutter — air filters, RSVPs, calendar cleanup — captures how the brain gets fragmented, not by big problems but by constant low-grade choice-making.
One angle I’d add: outsourcing isn’t only about time. It’s about identity. When someone else holds your tasks, you’re no longer the “container” for everything. That can be liberating — but also disorienting, because many high-achieving women have unconsciously used mental load as proof of love, competence, and worth. Offloading it can create a strange emotional vacuum: “If I’m not the one remembering everything, am I still the responsible one?” Your piece hints at this, but I think it’s a deep undercurrent worth exploring. Sometimes the hardest part of delegating is not logistical — it’s letting go of the belief that carrying everything is what makes you good.
Learning the art of delegation, and accepting someone to get the task done to 80% of "the quality" you'd do is a huge part of this process!
Exactly! Thank you for sharing this.
Super thoughtful review Barbara! I've worked with a Faye Advisor for over 2 years now (household of 2 working professionals, 2 dogs) and have gotten help with insurance reimbursements, contact reordering, calling airlines to make changes and get refunds, calling dentist/doc to get an appointment. I also tried Duckbill. Fast but without a dedicated person nudging me, ball is back in my court and doing the final steps of a task slip...
insurance reimbursements and doctors office calling is my personal nightmare, loved being able to delegate that!
And weigh in if you already use one of these platforms, what your review is!
Would love to hear ONE THING you'd outsource right now to an assistant!