Achieving a work-life balance is tough. And even tougher when you’re a parent juggling everything.
As a working mum to a little boy, to me it is important to have flexible working hours so I can to spend time with him. It’s a tough balancing act, and it’s something I have learned over time but continue to learn.
There is no defined way to juggle it all. But below are some insights on what has worked for me.
Time Management
I am one of those people who plans. I did it during my studies at school and university. Using a diary, I would block out time slots for specific subjects, breaks, class schedule, etc. I also did it when I was employed; my Google Calendar was the most colourful in the office.
But it’s a whole new level when you have a little one. They have no schedule!
Especially when they start fighting naps. When I started Panda Motion Designs, I would put my son down for a nap and get on with processing orders. But then he began to drop the naps, and it all went out the window. It is a real struggle to plan when you have a toddler who won’t sit still.
I ended up planning the bulk of what I needed to do in the 2 days he attended Nursery. That way, I could really focus on the business and free up the time to spend with my toddler.
Now that he is in school, I have more time to work on my business, but still under a time restriction. I got a weekly planner for Christmas, and it has been great. I could plan out what I needed to do for the week and tick them off as I go along (There is no feeling like it when you cross something off your to-do list).
Having a diary or weekly planner has really been the key tool for me for time management
There are plenty of downloadable weekly planners on Etsy, but I do recommend MumBossDigital. She has some lovely digital products to help you with your time management.
Unplug
Time to unplug. This is especially tough when your entire business is online and you are on social media and responding to messages, etc.
I did struggle with this the most. And still do now and again. But when I first opened up my Etsy store, I was constantly refreshing my Etsy stats and was not present with my little boy; he expressed this lack of attention with crying and tantrums. I ended up putting my phone out of arm’s reach when I was on the floor playing with him. Phones are addictive, so it may seem impossible to unplug from your digital life, but it is achievable by making small steps.
Unplugging as a parent is important, too. I used to read a lot on the train during the commute to London, and I missed that, so I started reading again. Take up some creative hobbies, I have done cross-stitch and had a go at knitting (need to start again, had to take a break as it was getting frustrating), I also love to bake and draw regularly. It all helped me anchor myself and feel more like me again.
Serenity Growth’s social media is lovely and has some lovely, supportive posts to help unplug and anchor yourself in beautiful ways.
Time to Yourself
It is so easy to burn out these days, let alone being a parent and running a small business. So, it is important to focus on yourself.
One day a week, I use it as a self-care day. I do what I want to do all day. Whether that’s giving myself a pamper, playing couch potato all day, or baking. Whatever it is that day is for me. And during the school holidays, my husband will take my son out for a day and leave me in a peaceful house.
If it is just for an hour, or a whole day, or a night out with your mates, make sure to give yourself some self-care. It really helps me clear my mind and refocus again as a mum, wife and business owner.
Positivi-Tea has some lovely self-care hampers to treat yourself or someone else with.
Well, I hope that was helpful. I want to reiterate that these insights have been effective for me, and they may not work the same way for everyone. I hope that this blog has given you something to think about and how you can implement some of these ideas into your daily life.
It can be a lonely world as a parent and small business owner. But know that you are not alone, and you are fantastic, and you can do this.
Feel free to reach out to me via my social media pages or comment below.
Until next time, stay brilliant.
Leave A Comment