It’s no secret that Londoners consider themselves busier than others. With 40% of the capital opting to outsource simply because it saves them time they’d rather use doing something else, the concept of spare time is be a precious one. In a world where we can have anything done at the ‘push of a button’, seeking help with the smaller, more obscure tasks in our lives surprisingly remains a foreign notion.
The reality is we’re either too busy or procrastinating getting on to the next task. Rather than seeking help, we ‘snooze’ the reminder on our phones and make empty promises to ourselves that we’ll do that computer update or plan that trip to the US tomorrow or the next day. While we’re happy to seek help with the traditional to-do’s like cleaning the house, outsourcing anything else has not been an option, until now.
Since launching in the UK earlier this year, we have worked with the team over at outsourcing platform Airtasker who have ‘kept tabs’ on what tasks Londoners are posting, uncovering the most interesting things your borough’s outsourcing habits say about you and where you live. From the messiest and the clumsiest to the biggest party animals, here is a breakdown of London when it comes to those not-so-by-the-book to-dos.
THE BIGGEST PARTY ANIMALS
Le freak, c’est chic! You’re the host with the most, most parties that is… World cup, a new house, a charity fundraiser – no excuse is too small to have a party!
- LAMBETH
- TOWER HAMLETS
- HACKNEY
THE MESSIEST
We get it! Life is hard enough trying to fit in everything you both need and want to do in a week, without having to worry about keeping the house in ‘tip top shape’.
- HACKNEY
- ISLINGTON
- SOUTHWARK
THE MOST VAIN
Turns out, Kim Kardashian is not the only one confident in the way she looks. Why not embrace what your momma gave you.
- KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
- CITY OF LONDON
- ISLINGTON
ALWAYS GETTING THEMSELVES LOCKED OUT
Clumsiness is a wide spread thing that affects us all but it seems some of us are clumsier than others, putting in quite a few calls to the locksmiths. Call it forgetful or clumsy, we like to think of it as being really good at getting into sticky situations.
- LAMBETH
- GREENWICH
- EALING
MOST PAMPERED PETS
If you have a pet, they will most likely already lead a good life or lying around all day, eating and being cute. However, it seems the pets in these areas are receiving the ‘Cadillac’ of pet care with their own personal pet sitters, walkers and photo sessions.
- LEWISHAM
- WANDSWORTH
- CAMDEN
THE BIGGEST TECH GEEK
When there’s something wrong with your answer phone… who you gonna call? Apparently, your best bet lies within these three boroughs.
- TOWER HAMLETS
- SOUTHWARK
- WANDSWORTH
TECHNOPHOBES
It’s common knowledge that if we could all choose one skill to magically have at the ‘click’ of a mouse, it would be how to deal with tricky tech. Unfortunately, said magical button has not yet been invented, so a techie on speed dial can come in handy.
- HACKNEY
- KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
- LAMBETH
MOST EAGER TO LEARN A LANGUAGE
Travelling abroad, working with international markets or just want to impress your friends? If there’s one skill that keeps on giving it’s speaking a foreign language.
- EALING
- BARNET
- ISLINGTON
UNHAPPY WITH THEIR JOB
The whole job application process can be a real drag and can often be challenging trying to keep objective and motivated. Seeking advice, tips and just general help when applying to jobs can really make a difference to you getting your dream job.
- HACKNEY
- BARNET
- LEWISHAM
THE BEST SEAMSTERS
Sadly, an art that isn’t as popular as it once was. Unless you’re the average size in all aspects, you’ll know how handy a seamstress can be…
- HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM
- CAMDEN
- KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
THE BUSIEST
The big kahuna. Are you even a Londoner if you haven’t had a ‘I’m so busy’ off with another fellow Londoner? Outsourcing the most tasks of all due to the uncompromising of schedules are Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Islington.
- HACKNEY
- TOWER HAMLETS
- ISLINGTON
LEAST BUSY
The holy grail of London lifestyles. Taking a more relaxed view at life, those living in Sutton, Kingston and Harrow seems to be harbouring a secret to being more laidback. We must find what it is!
- SUTTON
- KINGSTON UPON THAMES
- HARROW
Outsourcing community Airtasker has seen tasks of all kinds in their home country Australia. From brides being escorted by stormtroopers to having someone travel across the world to pick-up an engagement ring, it just proves that only your imagination is the limit when it comes to ticking off your to-dos. Following suit, Londoners have started embracing all their outsourcing needs rather than hiding them. You no longer need to give up your weekends in lieu of mundane tasks like learning how to work with your new iPhone when can so easily solicit help at the press of a button.
Head of UK Marketing, Kirstine Pedersen tells YCB what Londoners can learn from their Ozzie counterparts on embracing the outsourcing task concept:
“The main barrier is often a lack of imagination in terms of the possibilities offered on platforms such as ours. In Australia, where the platform has been going for over 6 years, users outsource everything from personal training to songwriting, inspiring others to behave in the same way. We’re definitely seeing Londoners becoming more familiar with the possibilities of outsourcing, and it’s likely just a matter of months till we see the same amount of creativity here.”
