Balancing Business & Family as a Mumpreneur
There is no question that being a Mum and an Entrepreneur is a massive challenge. Trust me, I know first hand how tricky it is!
Here are 5 top tips that I’ve found help me (and my clients) to juggle many balls…
Whether you’re a Mum in business, a working Mum, or a stay at home Mum, this article is for you.
1. Where possible, focus on one thing at a time.
As women, we pride ourselves on being able to multi-task. And we do it well. However, be aware that we actually lose a large amount of time switching between tasks. Where possible, allocate chunks of time per task. Break your week up into regular sections where you play with your kids, certain times of the day where you answer your email, take and return phone calls, plan and create products. When you are totally “present” to a task, whether that be writing a blog post or playing with your kids, it is a MUCH more rewarding and satisfying (not to mention productive!) experience.
2. Be realistic about what you can get done in a day, week, month.
If you’re anything like me, passionate about your business and with loads of ideas, you just want to get as much done as you can. But the truth is, family comes first. There are school holidays, kids are home sick, other family members might need caring for… I used to let these things upset me and frustrate me. Now I accept it’s all part of life’s journey. And when I do that, it’s all much easier to cope with.
3. OUTSOURCE.
Make a list of tasks you really loathe doing and consider outsourcing them. You DO NOT have to be EVERYTHING to everyone to show that you’re a competent mother and business woman. For instance, I have a house cleaner. I resisted it for many years. She comes twice a week and I used to be embarrassed that I didn’t clean my own home! Now I am SO thankful that I have that time to spend with my kids and my clients rather than scrubbing the toilet and bathroom! Consider also using odesk.com to outsource other areas of your business. We outsource our web design for instance – not because we can’t do it ourselves but because our trusty helper in the Phillippines does it for $5 an hour, freeing us up to earn $150 per hour in our coaching business. A no-brainer for me!
4. Say YES to yourself.
Set clear boundaries around how much you are prepared to do for others. I used to be a serial “people pleaser” – giving to others more than I gave to myself, and ultimately my husband and kids suffered from it! Now I make different choices about how much I do for others, and I am much happier. And I do things just for ME – something every day, whether it be a meditation, a hot bath or a walk.
5. Thank yourself.
This may sound strange, but when was the last time you actually gave yourself credit for the wonderful, amazing woman that you are?? Spend a few moments before you go to sleep at night playing a tape over in your head about your day, and focus on one or two incredible things you do, let go of any mistakes and look forward to what tomorrow brings.
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