Did you know that millions of businesses in the US alone are owned by women? Surely, a lot of these women are also mothers. Yes, being a parent and an entrepreneur at the same time is possible. If you happen to be a mom who runs a business from home, then you are a mompreneur!
It’s no secret that motherhood is a full-time job. As a mompreneur, you’re not just responsible for meeting the needs of your family, but also the needs of your clients and team – if you have one! That’s what makes mompreneurs AWESOME. Being a mompreneur pushes you out of your comfort zone.
If you are a mompreneur who’s trying to balance work and family, this article is for you. As a mompreneur myself, I have gained some essential hacks which I believe will help you stay on top of your game!
Inspiring Tips for Mompreneurs
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
This is the first lesson you need to learn: Resist the urge to do everything on your own. You will burn out if you don’t outsource! While you want to take on the world, it’s also important to realize that success comes faster when you get an extra pair of hands. Make a list of all your business tasks. Identify operations that only you can do for confidentiality or creativity reasons. Limit yourself to these tasks.
2. Schedule your days.
Plan out which hours within the day should be dedicated to business. You could start at 5 am to get half of your work done at 9 am. That way, you won’t have to feel overwhelmed when urgent personal errands arise in the middle of the day. A pre-determined daily routine also helps you stay disciplined and efficient.
3. Take a full day off once a week!
Give yourself a day of rest so you can spend uninterrupted time with yourself and your family. You could choose Saturday or Sunday – whichever works best for you! What’s interesting is that when you take quality time off, innovative ideas arise. Have a picnic with your kid. Go for a mini-adventure like camping or hiking. Exercise outdoors. Finish a good book!
4. Get over “mommy guilt.”
Whether you’re a new mother or not, mommy guilt happens. It’s a feeling of guilt when you made a choice such as putting work before your kid or you fell short of expectations. Mommy guilt can be dangerous in that it could lead to unhealthy behaviors. It also makes you lose sight of the big picture.
There are many ways to overcome this guilt. One of them is to surround yourself with positive, supportive people, and to get some space between you and the person who bring up conversations that cause guilt. Another tip is to give yourself a break and use that break to spend quality time with your kid! Consider it as bonding time.
5. Designate an office space for work.
As a mompreneur, avoiding distractions is a must. If you allow anything to distract you, you won’t get anything done. Pick an area in your home where you can set-up a desk that holds all your business-related items and tech stuff – Your laptop, planner, documents, pens, books, etc. Get yourself a comfy chair as well! Declare that your work space is off-limits unless there is a real emergency!
