Balancing Work-Life

I don’t know about you, but I started my online business to have the freedom to be present for my family. However, after years of a corporate hustle mentality, I returned to the unbalance of always working. I had to challenge my mindset and find ways to prioritize the day-to-day with my family while still growing my business. To do this, I had to create a routine and set my own personal boundaries that allowed me to embrace a more realistic work-life balance.

How Are You Out of Balance?

I’m curious: how do you feel out of balance? Because here is the thing: I’ve worked with my fair share of Mama entrepreneurs starting out; they tend to fall into one of two buckets on the work-life balance scale. 

Are you out of balance because you’re consumed with your business? I’m guessing you already know the bucket that I fell into when I began my business. 

I found myself creeping into my office at any free moment. This was for two reasons: I was excited about my business and still believed that I must hustle harder to be successful. My work-life balance was way out of whack. Are you in the hustle harder bucket?

Perhaps it is the other bucket, Mama your seated on the struggle bus. You still have the same love and passion for your business, but you struggle with time management and keeping yourself accountable when there is no set workday.

Now that we know the two buckets, here are ideas for setting yourself up for success as you pivot into being a work-from-home entrepreneur.

Hustle Harder Entrepreneurs

Let’s look at the conscious changes to not fall into the trap of hustling harder.

Now, this is important: what is your why? Why do you want to be present for your family and be an entrepreneur? I’m guessing that you have lofty business goals, and nothing is standing in your way. I get it; define why you desire to be a work-from-home business owner. Even though you think your why is your big goal, I think you’ll agree when I say it will be freedom to be present for your family.

Another critical point is to sit down and map out your dream week. Using your why and business goals, map out the perfect dream week. Plan this out from when you wake up to when you go to bed. What will you be doing when you are working, and what will you be doing when you’re with your family? Remember, as a work-from-home entrepreneur, you have the freedom to be present for your family throughout the day.

Here is a link to my blog post on Dream Week. https://misstask.com/need-clarity-in-your-online-business/

Setting Boundaries With Your Family

Additionally, another challenge will be setting boundaries with your family. This is new to them; they will also need to shift their thinking about having you at home all the time.

How do I know? This scenario is a common one that I’ve worked through with more than one coaching client when they are struggling with work-life balance.

You see when transitioning from a traditional 9-5 to a work-from-home entrepreneur, it is essential to take the time to set boundaries with your family. As I mentioned, this is new for them, too. 

Step back and look at it from their point of view. When Mom was home in the past, she wasn’t figuring out the balance between running a business and taking care of her family. Her focus was purely on caring for her home and family.

All of a sudden, that’s no longer the case. Aside from setting your own boundaries, it will also mean talking to your family about the fact that you're not at home when you're in the office. Trust me, you will not have a successful work-from-home business if you say yes to dropping your work to running errands for your family.

Given these points, ensure you’re honoring your commitments to your growing business and your family.

Work-Life Balance As An Entrepreneur

Finding a work-life balance is crucial to avoid burnout and maintain productivity. Here are some strategies I've found effective and recommend to my clients:

Establish Routines

1. Create a morning routine for yourself: Start your day with a purposeful morning routine that sets the tone for productivity and positivity. This may include activities like exercise, meditation, journaling, or reviewing your goals for the day. The trick is to find what works for you. Experiment to find a routine that energizes and focuses you for the day ahead.

2. Develop a morning routine for your children: Establish a consistent morning routine to help them start the day on the right foot. This may involve age-appropriate tasks like making their bed, brushing their teeth, or helping with breakfast preparation. A structured routine will help calm the chaos and stress in the morning.

3. Implement an “end of the office” routine: Wind down your day with an end-of-the-business-day routine that helps you transition from work mode to relaxation. This may include reviewing accomplishments, planning the next day, reading, or engaging in a calming hobby. An evening routine will help you mentally disconnect from work and allow you to focus on your family. 

4. Utilize the Pomodoro Technique: This time management method involves working in 25-minute focused intervals, followed by a 5-minute break. Using this method is a beautiful way to tackle your home to-do list. During these breaks, take on folding laundry, tidying up, or cleaning the kitchen. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done in 5 minutes. Honestly, this approach allows you to feel the freedom of running a business and family. It’s the best of both worlds: focus on your business while accomplishing household responsibilities. It feels so magical to get so much done. One quick note on this the standard 25-minute interval may not work for you. Experiment with longer focused intervals if you feel like you just hit your groove when the timer goes off. Utilize an app like Flow for Mac to keep you on track.

5. Set yourself up for success the night before: What are your morning pain points? What repeat patterns show up day after day, causing unnecessary stress? Do you battle with what to wear for yourself or your kids? By planning your outfits the night before, you can avoid decision fatigue in the morning. As a result, you'll give your children the chance to choose outfits themselves. Now, it is important to prepare the kitchen for breakfast by setting out bowls and spoons and possibly a batch of overnight oats for a healthy start to everyone's day. 

6. Teach your children the importance of organization: Do you find it difficult to get them out the door on time? If so, ensure your evening routine includes everything to get your kids out the door. I’ve set an example for my kids from a young age: put your stuff away so that you do not need to look for it, especially in the morning.

Yes, I know this may sound harsh to a few of you, but it was a rare occasion for me to help them find a missing item. If the item were not found by the time we had to leave, they would go without it. I won’t lie; it destroyed me inside to listen to them cry on the way to school. I’d reassure them it would be okay, and once we returned home, I’d help them with the hunt first thing when we walked in the door. By gathering everything the evening before, our stress-free morning was the norm. 

Look for routines to set up to make your life go smoother. You can create new habits and routines as you transition from working outside the home to owning a work-from-home business.

Prioritize Self-Care

1. Schedule time for yourself: As a busy business owner, it's essential to prioritize self-care. Block out time in your calendar for activities that recharge you, such as exercise, meditation, or pursuing a hobby. Treating this time as non-negotiable will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

2. Set boundaries: Communicate your work hours and expectations clearly to your family and clients. Establish designated work times and create a dedicated workspace to help you mentally separate work and family life.

3. Practice mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily routine to reduce stress and improve focus. This can include gratitude journaling, short meditation or deep breathing exercises such as box breathing (inhale for a four count, hold for four count, exhale for four count and hold again for a four count, repeat).

Embrace Flexibility

1. Be open to adjusting your routine: As a work-from-home entrepreneur, your schedule may need to adjust to your family's needs. Be willing to experiment with different routines and find what works best for you and your household.

2. Leverage your content creation skills: As a content creator, you have the ability to work ahead and batch your content. Take advantage of productive periods to create content in advance, giving you more flexibility when unexpected family needs arise.

3. Outsource when necessary: Don't hesitate to seek help when you need it. Consider outsourcing tasks like cleaning, meal preparation, or even certain aspects of your business to free up more time for family and self-care. Don’t forget those tasks can be outsourced to your children. Recently, I had a conversation about how laundry was outsourced to my children when my oldest was ten. The benefit followed them to college as they were the college  freshmen who taught roommates how to do laundry for themselves.

It’s Time To Wrap This Up

I’ve been in your exact same shoes, I understand the unique challenges that come with being a work-from-home entrepreneur, content creator, and Mom. Balancing your business, content creation, and family life can be overwhelming, but with the right strategies and support, you can achieve your goals and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

If you're ready to take your business to the next level while creating more time for the things that matter most, I invite you to work with me. Together, we'll develop personalized routines, implement effective time management techniques, and create a roadmap for your success. You'll learn how to repurpose your content effectively, streamline your processes, and build a thriving business that allows you to be present for your family.

Don't let the challenges of being an entrepreneur hold you back from reaching your full potential. Apply to work with me today, and let's start building the life and business you've always dreamed of. With my guidance and support, you'll gain the clarity, confidence, and tools you need to excel as a health and wellness coach, content creator, and mom. Take the first step towards a more balanced, fulfilling life – I'm here to help you every step of the way.