The Hidden Cost of Doing It All

Why Letting Go of the Work You Dread Can Transform Your Interior Design Business

Episode 124

In this solo episode, I’m sharing a personal story about the part of my interior design business I used to dread: documentation. It drained my energy, stole my time, and left me feeling constantly behind. Instead of pushing through, I chose to outsource—and it changed everything.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to do it all, this episode is for you. I share what outsourcing actually looks like in a small studio, how to build strong relationships with trusted collaborators, and why success doesn’t have to mean doing everything yourself.

Hope you enjoy the episode

Beth xx

Let’s be honest—interior design is not a one-person job.

You’re not just designing. You’re also running the business. Admin, finance, marketing, social media, procurement, project management, onboarding… oh, and then there’s documentation. The never-ending trail of line weights, redlines, drawings, details, and revisions.

For me, documentation was the task I dreaded. I procrastinated. I overthought. I avoided. It made me feel like I was working against my brain.

And yet, there was a voice in my head saying: You should be able to do this.

But here’s what I’ve come to realise—and what I want to share with you in this episode: just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. Especially when someone else can do it faster, better, and with far less stress.

What This Episode Covers

• Why I used to feel guilty about disliking documentation—and how I reframed that

• The moment I realised outsourcing was not a luxury, but a necessity for my wellbeing

• How I found and built relationships with documentation experts I now trust completely

• What strategic outsourcing actually looks like in a solo or small design studio

• How to incorporate outsourcing costs into your fee proposals (without scaring off clients)

• The power of building collaborative—not transactional—working relationships

• How outsourcing has allowed me to confidently take on larger, more complex projects

• Why this one shift has improved my client experience and my creative output

• My personal challenge to you: Start small, start now

It’s Not Just About Getting Help. It’s About Building Capacity.

Outsourcing is often misunderstood. It’s not about spending money for the sake of it or building a massive team overnight.

It’s about buying back your time and mental energy. It’s about freeing yourself up to focus on the parts of your business that actually light you up. It’s about choosing where you want to show up—not feeling forced to show up everywhere, all the time.

And here’s the thing: every hour you spend doing something that drains you is an hour you're not designing, not thinking creatively, not resting, not dreaming.

The Truth About Strategic Outsourcing

Outsourcing only works if it’s done intentionally. I don’t just hand over work to anyone. I’ve cultivated strong, respectful relationships with specialists—people who love the detail, who thrive in the documentation zone, who genuinely care about quality and communication.

When I quote for a job, I build their costs into my proposals. The client doesn’t see the breakdown, but I do. And because I’ve worked closely with my documentation partners, I know their timeframes, their fees, their working style. There are no surprises. It’s seamless. And it means I can deliver work I’m proud of—without burning out.

Just like a trusted builder or architect, the more you work together, the more efficient the process becomes. You start to speak the same language. And that shared understanding? It’s business gold.

It’s Okay to Stay in Your Lane

Too many designers feel shame around outsourcing—like it’s a sign they can’t handle it all.

But what if we reframed it?

What if outsourcing wasn’t about weakness, but about wisdom? What if staying in your zone of genius—design, client experience, creative thinking—was the most powerful decision you could make for your business?

Because let’s be real: burnout doesn’t build bold studios. And control doesn’t always equal clarity.

This Episode is For You If…

• You’re feeling overwhelmed by doing all the things

• You secretly dread part of your process but push through anyway

• You want to grow your studio, but feel like you’ve hit a ceiling

• You’ve been afraid to outsource because of cost or fear of losing control

• You’re ready to run your business differently—but need help taking that first step

A Small Shift That Can Change Everything

Here’s my challenge to you this week:

• Identify one task in your business that drains you.

• Ask yourself—what would I do with that time if I could get it back?

• Then, take one small step toward outsourcing it.

That might mean reaching out to a peer for a referral. It might mean starting a conversation with someone you’ve been admiring from afar. It might mean letting go of the guilt and making the decision to not do it all anymore.

Start small. But start.

Because the way forward isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about working smarter, and building a business that supports the whole you.