Things I’ve Outsourced to the Internet Lately

In the past few years, I have been really opening up to the idea of doing things “online” that are typically done “offline.” For example, I have written about my passion for learning new skills and concepts through podcasts (HERE) and online classes (HERE). This is a huge benefit for me being that we live in a smallish town with very little access to variety and options. Fortunately, this is not as much as the hindrance it used to be due to the sea of options available on the Web.

Here is a sampling of some of my recent ventures online that go beyond online shopping:

Renting a dress for an event ONLINE. A while back, I was grumbling to my friend Becca about having to look for and purchase a dress for an evening event. We rarely attend any event that requires us to dress up. So when the occasion arises, I get all stressed out trying to figure out where I am going to find a dress that I like, that fits and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. As soon as I said this, Becca said, “You should try Rent the Runway!” Huh? Had never heard about it. She told me all about it and I was sold. Apparently this is a big phenomenon, but I freely admit that I live under a rock, so I was clueless. Here’s how it works: You browse through hundreds of dress options which come in every size, style, and occasion you could ever think of. There are tons of reviews and even photos of ‘real’ people that wearing that dress. They send you two different sizes of your chosen dress just to make sure you can choose the one that fits best. They even have accessories! I give Rent the Runway two thumbs up. And I will NEVER buy a dress for an occasion again.

Working with a holistic nutritional counselor ONLINE. I am a big believer that what we put (or don’t put) into our bodies directly affects our health. Several months ago I had some concerns regarding hormonal balance. I did some searching for podcasts, and found a really informative one that had a special guest speaker on the topic. I really liked what she had to say and her approach seemed right for me. So I emailed her, and after an initial phone conversation, I signed up for a one month coaching session with her. It was so beneficial. My main goal was for her to hold my hand through getting bloodwork done to make sure I was getting the right tests, and so she could serve as a second set of eyes to analyze the results. Which she did. But she was much more thorough than that. She then provided a very thorough write-up on her recommendations. Her insight was great and I felt so much more sure having her guidance. Even though she lives in California, her clients are all over the map! How awesome is that?

Hiring a personal trainer ONLINE. Every few months or so, I seem to get in a workout routine rut. I still go to the gym because I don’t ever want to lose the habit, but need something new to surprise my brain. And my muscles. One day, a trainer from Utah that I follow on Instagram posted that she was hosting a “Fit Blast” for the upcoming month. It was basically a month’s worth of workouts and meal plans for $15. You cannot beat that price, so I decided to try it. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t do the meals, but would print out my workout every morning before the gym and would do whatever Jill K wanted me to do. I liked it so much I signed up for an additional month. Now I am on to something new, but I appreciate having that as an option whenever I hit a lull.

Renting a camera lens ONLINE. Something else I am doing online now is renting camera lenses as the needs arise. If you are familiar with DSLR cameras, you know that the really good lenses are super expensive. And depending on your needs, you might need different lenses. So one thing I have done a couple times now is RENT the lens of my choice. For our upcoming vacation, I wanted to take a good lens. I really wanted the 24-70mm 2.8 lens for its quality & flexibility. However, this lens costs $2,000. YIKES. See why I don’t own this? So I went on BorrowLenses.com, and just rented it for 5% of the cost. Once you’re done, you just pop it back in the mail with the shipping level they provide and you are done!

I realize this may be old hat to many people; doing things online. Have you outsourced anything in your life to online services?  My mind is really opening up to all of the needs that can be met beyond just buying things on the Internet. I really love that no longer am I limited by the professionals and services in my small community. Now I get to enjoy the perks of a small town with the options of a larger one. Although I could really use a Whole Foods….

Posted by Ale & filed under Podcasts. This post has 2 comments.