over 50 things you can do with a family assistant

Real talk. 2020 nearly broke me.

Between moving to a new city for the 3rd time in 3 years, catching an eerily Covid-like flu *twice*, and spending nearly 4 months at home with our two kids (and somehow only raising them for a total of 47 minutes), 2020 had me in my feelings.

And I know I’m not alone. A New York Times story last summer captured the sentiment, In the Covid-19 Economy, You Can Have a Kid or a Job. You Can’t Have Both.

This u, bro? (courtesy Luis Villasmil (unsplash))

Being a product manager, I surveyed friends about their biggest pain points and wishlist of products that may have made 2020 feel like less of a dumpster fire.

Nearly 65% of them said that household management (scheduling appointments, groceries, chores, etc.) was a top pain point. This work was made all the more complicated by a global pandemic that kept us trapped up at home (some of us with kids trying to learn online).

So I started a nori: an executive assistant for your family. It takes care of organizing your daily calendar, meal planning, grocery delivery, scheduling appointments, research and all the tedious tasks that sap our energy and attention.

I know 2020 is over. But the daily grind is not. To that end, I wanted to share a list of tasks you delegate to a family assistant (and if you want to try nori — check it out here or send me a message).

The List

1. Set up a meal plan (with recipes) based on your dietary preferences and restrictions.
2. Request and manage family members’ digital health records.
3. Schedule doctor’s appointments.
4. Schedule grocery deliveries.
5. Find a new doctor that takes your medical insurance.
6. Manage school visits, school lotteries, waiting lists and admissions procedures for kids’ school.
7. Make family photos albums (Did you know you can transfer your photos from Facebook to Google Photos, Dropbox, Koofr and Backblaze B2?)
8. Send birthday cards.
9. Schedule your parents’ Covid vaccine appointments.
10. Collect friends and family’s mailing address for holiday cards and invitations.
11. Hire someone to pick up those Amazon return packages and letters to take to the post office.
12. Gather your W-2 from employers (before!) taxes are due.
13. Track recalls for your kids toys, car seats etc.
14. Keep track of all the notices, reminders, meetings from your kids schools
15. Poll your friends for advice or product recommendations.
16. Schedule pickup of your Christmas tree.
17. Schedule laundry pick-up and drop-off.
18. Get a quote for car repairs from multiple mechanics.
19. Find a dog sitter.
20. Research summer camp options.
21. Find a lawn mower.

22. Poll your friends for advice or product recommendations.

23. Find a caterer for birthdays and other social events.

24. Get valentine’s day ideas (it’s coming up!)

25. Check-in to your flights and notify you of any flight delays or time changes

26. Get a quote for car repairs from multiple mechanics.

27. Schedule play dates for your kids.

28. Book home massage services (I think this is legal).

29. Get last minute child care coverage for school outages (assuming your kids are in school).

30. Take notes during important personal meetings, create a summary and send you any action items.

31. Order and arrange the delivery of flowers, cookies, gift baskets, etc.

32. Shop for kids’ clothes.

33. Order food to be delivered to a friend or family member.

34. Get oil/gas delivered at home or while you’re on the road.

34. Get your daily agenda (meetings)

35. Assign family members with tasks

36. Set bill reminders.

37. Plan vacations and road trips (find travel stops, map distances, book hotels).

38. Research drug contraindications

39. Find a learning pod.

40. Start a learning pod.

41. Reconcile bank and credit card statements.

42. Keep shopping purchases within budget.

43. Get notified when price drops for product on your wish list.

44. Find online coupons before making big purchases.

45. Send in your rebates and coupons.

46. Donate old books and toys to friends/ charity.

47. Schedule call for a thrift store drop off.

48. Schedule family meetings and outings.

49. Update your calendar when appointments change.

50. Get book, movie and dining recommendations.

51. Book dinner at an actual restaurant (one day, I promise…)

52. Schedule check in meetings with your kids’ teachers.

53. Book airport pickup/ drop-off driver that has car seats.

54. Schedule boat docking and moving because you’re balling now with that Game Stop money.

55. Get a reminder to check in with friends you haven’t talked to in a while.

You woke up like this