Being a mother of four and a business owner- a mompreneur-I know how challenging of a role it can be. This mompreneur role demands juggling business and personal life simultaneously. Balancing work and family is no easy feat; mothers often find themselves stretched too thin trying to do it all. A study revealed that more than 40% of entrepreneurs are women, many of whom are mothers.
This article will explore how a busy mompreneur can maintain a healthy lifestyle while running a successful business. We will review practical strategies, from creating a functional daily routine and prioritizing goals to outsourcing and delegating when necessary. Let's dive in and learn how you can become a successful mompreneur without sacrificing your health or family.
Create a Daily Routine That Works With Your Healthy Lifestyle
To successfully navigate the demands of a mompreneur, you need to create a daily routine that works for you and your family. A solid routine can establish structure and boundaries, ultimately leading to increased productivity and a better business and healthy lifestyle balance. Start by identifying the non-negotiables in your day, such as school drop-offs or family meals, and build your schedule around those. Be realistic about your time constraints and avoid overscheduling. Your schedule will need fine tuning as your child gets older as the attention required by them will change.
For example, if you have a toddler, it might be better to piece out shorter working sessions throughout your day and work around their nap times. If you have teenagers, you might want to reserve some time after school to have quality time with them to discuss their day and keep your weekends and night free. If you are a homeschool mom like us, you must figure out how to do some projects with them, when they can do some of the activities while you work, and break down your work schedule throughout the day. Remember, saying no to commitments that don't align with your priorities is okay.
Once you have a framework for your day, incorporate time blocks for your work tasks. Determine your most productive hours and reserve those for your most important work. Schedule breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout and allow yourself to recharge. Not every day will go according to plan, but having a routine to fall back on can provide a sense of control and lessen the stress of unexpected events. You will always have something to do as a mompreneur but remember that self-care is as important to keep a healthy lifestyle. Schedule some hours every week for yourself and your family, and make sure you take some fresh air every day.
Prioritize Your Mompreneur Goals and Manage Your Time Effectively
By establishing a daily routine, you can find a balance between your responsibilities as a mompreneur. But there are always going to be obstacles and changes that come your way, making it challenging to stay on track. That's why prioritizing your goals and managing your time effectively is vital to maintaining a healthy balance between your work and your healthy lifestyle. Write a list of everything that needs to be done for work, including small and large tasks. Once you have that list, break it down by taking one or two weekly things. Put these two points together and list everything you need to do to complete these tasks. You should only work on one task at a time and scratch it off once it has been completed.
Being a mompreneur, I also find it helpful to keep a list of family tasks every week. The activities of my children and all the tasks they have to complete are listed in my children's schedule. They all know what needs to be done to get to the park faster or have a special family game night. Engage them in some of your business tasks as well. This will benefit you and them since they will gain a lot of knowledge.
Setting specific goals can create a roadmap that will help you stay focused and motivated. Consider using a planner or digital tool to remain on top of your to-do list, and don't be afraid to delegate tasks when necessary. Make sure you always update your list as your business grows. Remember, your time is valuable, so use it wisely.
Overcome the Guilt of Being a Busy Mompreneur
As a busy mompreneur, guilt can often creep in when you feel like you're not giving enough attention to your business or family. It's important to remember that you are doing your best and that taking time for yourself is okay. Overcoming the guilt will allow you to focus on your work without feeling guilty about neglecting your family or vice versa. By prioritizing your goals and managing your time effectively, you can alleviate some of the guilt associated with being a busy mompreneur.
As a mompreneur, I love setting specific times for my children during the week. The schedule shows that we go to the park every day in the morning or evening, and they know what activities are scheduled. In addition, they get to see the house chores, and I try to make them fun and part of quality time. When we do our tasks together, we have a dance party or set a timer and race to finish before the bell rings. There are many ways to handle it all without feeling guilty. Mompreneurs should be proud that they can build their businesses around their family responsibilities.
In addition, it's important to remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your business and family. Don't neglect your physical and mental health in the pursuit of success. It is important to remember that a healthy lifestyle leads to a healthy business. Taking some mom time is as important, and you will feel energized to do more. As a result, your ideas and goals will be clearer, and the roadblocks will seem less daunting. When the mind is rested, it is easier to make critical thinking decisions and come up with solutions.
Take Care of Your healthy lifestyle
As a busy mompreneur, it's easy to forget to prioritize taking care of yourself. However, neglecting your physical and mental health can lead to burnout and hinder your business and family. Make sure to carve out time in your schedule for self-care. It can be as small as taking a relaxing bath or as big as booking a weekend getaway. Plan a few minutes or hours daily to do something that makes you feel good.
This is important as we are all different, so for some people baking a pie will be enjoyable, and for others, reading a book outside is their go-to. Find something that makes you relax and feel good. It could also be a hobby you enjoy; make time for it in your schedule. Whatever it may be, prioritize it, and don't let guilt or other obligations push it aside.
Something will always need to be fixed or done in your business. It applies to every business out there. Even if you worked non-stop for a year without sleeping, there would still be things to do. This is why prioritizing important things is crucial. Being healthy and rested will allow you to devote more time to your business. You can't underestimate the power of a healthy lifestyle in business.
In addition to self-care, prioritize exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits. As a result, you will be healthier physically, and your mental health and energy levels will improve. Don't let your busy schedule prevent you from working out or preparing nutritious meals. There's no need for a gym membership or hours of training, although if that's your thing, go for it! You only have to spend about 20-30 minutes a day to see amazing results. Often overlooked, getting those 10000 steps in is another powerful way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We can help you create the perfect healthy lifestyle plan tailored for you; click here.
Another thing you can do is prepare some meals in advance so you can have lunches ready. By doing this, you will avoid the temptation to get fast food delivered or drive-thrus while you work on your business. One of the advantages of being a mompreneur is that your schedule can be tailored to fit your needs. Take advantage of this to do your weekly meals, and you will save so much time, and thank us! Book a holistic nutrition analysis for a tailored plan that works for you and your family.
Last but not least, don't be afraid to seek help if you need it. Whether seeking therapy or delegating tasks, remember that asking for help is not a sign of failure. Recognizing when you need support is also part of taking care of yourself. Delegating is a great way to free up some time, even when you can do it all. Make sure you concentrate on what you enjoy and are good at in your business. Focus on your passion by slowly delegating everything else. By prioritizing your well-being, you can ensure you're bringing your best self to the mompreneur world.
Delegate and Outsource When Possible
As a busy mompreneur, there's only so much you can do in a day. We all have 24 hours, and we must keep some of those to sleep and care for our health and family. That's why delegating and outsourcing tasks can be a game-changer. Depending on how quickly you want to grow your business and your business goals, outsourcing for the job you aren't an expert in can really help both the business and yourself, whether it's hiring a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks or outsourcing social media management, delegating can free up valuable time for you to focus on what truly matters.
Ask yourself, why did you start your own business in the first place? Is it because you are passionate about something, or you might be an expert in your field, or maybe both? Concentrate on those tasks and let other experts in their field give you a hand in building and expanding your business. Outsourcing can also provide specialized expertise that you might not have in-house. For instance, hiring someone can save you time and frustration when creating graphics for your business if you're not a graphic designer.
Remember, it's essential to set clear expectations and communicate effectively with anyone you delegate or outsource to. This will ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and to your satisfaction. Give yourself the time to adapt to their working style and them to yours. At first, more communication and adjustments might be needed, but they will get to know you and your vision. There are so many online outsourcing companies, agencies, and even Facebook groups where you can find what you need. Maybe ask for a trial period or a portfolio.
You could also find someone looking to grow their portfolio and offer reviews for small tasks. Many people appreciate this when they are starting, and only because they are starting doesn't mean they aren't good or expert. They could be better than people with years of experience and only need a chance to prove it. You can reduce your stress levels and streamline your workload by delegating and outsourcing tasks. With the proper support, you can achieve a healthy lifestyle and work balance and feel more in control of your business and personal life.
Set Realistic Expectations and Celebrate Your Wins
It's easy to get overwhelmed with these endless to-do lists as a mompreneur and feel like you're constantly behind on everything. It's important to remember that there's only so much you can do in a day, and your goal timeline has to align with your situation. Setting realistic expectations for yourself and your business is essential to finding a healthy lifestyle and work balance.
When setting goals for your business, consider your personal life and the time you realistically have available to work. Setting smaller, achievable goals is better than continually pushing yourself beyond your limits. Consider the time you have and the time you will need for each aspect of your business. The expectations and timeline of a mompreneur who does everything herself will be very different from the mompreneur who outsources and delegates some of those tasks. The more you celebrate your successes, the more motivated and positive you'll remain.
However, it's also important not to beat yourself up when things don't go as planned. Life happens, and unexpected challenges are bound to arise. Use those setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow instead of getting bogged down. As a mompreneur, you will go through many phases with your children and family. Having a toddler will be very different from having a baby or having a teenager. Consider those phases when setting your expectations and timeline. Initially, you might have to outsource more help. Then during another phase, you may not need to outsource as much, and you might be able to do it all. Perhaps your business will grow slower while you care for the younger ones and flourish afterward. Although it may be initially slow, every step you take will help you progress.
For example, your situation might limit the number of blogs you can write per month for your website. Forget what others say about blogging multiple times a week, and start with what you can. Your readers will know that you publish a great story they can't wait to read every first Wednesday of the month. Make sure you promote that story and keep the monthly posts coming. In time, maybe you'll be able to create two a month or even one a week. The key to setting realistic goals is to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
No matter how big or small, always celebrate your victories. You should take time to reflect on your accomplishments and your progress. Have you landed a new client or completed that big project you've been working on? Your confidence and excitement about your work increase when you celebrate these achievements.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit ~ Aristotle
In summary, balancing a healthy lifestyle and work can be incredibly challenging for busy mompreneurs. However, with a bit of planning and prioritization, achieving a healthy lifestyle is possible while running a successful business. To find balance, create a daily routine that works for you and your family, prioritize your goals, and manage your time effectively. Remember that setting realistic expectations and celebrating wins are integral to finding a healthy lifestyle and work balance. As a mompreneur, you must take care of yourself physically and mentally, delegate tasks, and don't let guilt hold you back. As a busy mompreneur, achieving balance is an ongoing process, and with these tips, you can live your best healthy lifestyle. You'll build momentum and find greater success as a mompreneur by acknowledging your limits, setting achievable goals, and celebrating each accomplishment. Ozeya Life can help you tailor a unique plan; contact us for more information.
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References
Ecommerce tips, Women in Business Statistics in 2023, (April, 2023) https://ecommercetips.org/women-in-business/
Statistic Canada, Analysis on businesses majority-owned by women, second quarter of 2022 (June, 2022), https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-621-m/11-621-m2022009-eng.htm