3 Critical Strategies to Balance a Business with Family
One of the biggest challenges of being a stay at home mum entrepreneur has to be finding the balance to do it all. If you are like me, trying to be everything and everywhere for everyone can be frustrating at times. We want to be present for our kids and husband and we want to stay on top of our businesses.
However, let me tell you that it is absolutely possible. I can say this because I’ve been balancing my business, blog and book writing while raising 2 toddlers for more than 3 years now.
Here are three strategies that I stick to when I have multiple things on my plate.
Be Open About Your Limitations
All my clients know that I work from my home office and if I don’t immediately get back to them, I’m most likely attending to my children’s boo-boos or needs. Letting them know I’m a work-from-home mum minimises the chances that clients will get annoyed when I don’t pick up my phone. This allows me to be specific about the types of jobs and meeting appointments I will take.
You will be surprised that most clients are very reasonable. These days, nobody expects you to be accessible 24/7. Setting clear communication guidelines at the outset of your relationships with clients, suppliers and business partners can do wonders for work-life balance.
Create A Schedule That Works For You
It can get very exciting at the start of a new business. We have so many ideas that we want to jump into everything as soon as possible. As a mum, we wear many hats. Adding to that, you are also an entrepreneur – which means more things to add into your endless lists of to-do’s each day!
Fret not. If you know your limitations and have a systematic work schedule, things will run smoothly.
At the start, spend 2 nights per week working on your business. As you get more experienced, you will know when you’re most productive. It could even be in the morning – an hour before everyone wakes up.
Once you get your rhythm, you will know the best time to sneak in some work alongside house chores. For example, while you’re waiting for the laundry to be done, you can reply to emails or return calls.
As your business grows, you may need to add in more hours or more days but be careful about filling up your calendar. Always allow time for family and down time to avoid burn out.
Be Realistic About What You Can Accomplish
I wanted to launch my online coaching program and release my book by this year. But life took a turn and I got knocked up for the third time. Life happens.
It can be hard to put all our goals and dreams into reality when we are juggling many responsibilities. Which is why we need to know that we cannot accomplish everything. Not like pre-kids anyway.
For example, if a new client approaches me now to complete her baby nursery design and fit outs, I would turn it down because I know I’ll be overwhelmed with my own baby arrival and get frustrated if the project holds up my existing projects and writing engagements.
Knowing our limits and have realistic expectations up front is essential for keeping sane. You might go into thinking you could work on your side business every night after the kids are asleep. But it is not always feasible. There may be nights when a kid decides to delay bedtime, falls sick or you are just too exhausted by the end of a long day out.
Having a side business while you stay home with the kids can be very fulfilling and you can get the best of both worlds. You can have some side income while doing work you love and spend time with the kids. Also, do not forget that even if you have a small business, you could still choose a legal form for it and register it with ACRA. You can receive professional company formation services in Singapore from a team of local incorporation agents.
Following the tips above will help you keep your sanity and commit to a schedule that is reasonable and meaningful for yourself and for your family.
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Do leave a comment if you have any other tips on managing work-life balance. I would love to hear!
PS: For aspiring mumpreneur, here is a list of work you can do from home.
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I’m putting together a “Stay At Home Mom Boss” course to help mothers who are really serious about making an income from home. Whether you are struggling with a business idea or you already have something going on and looking to grow your business, this 90 days hands-on course will walk you through each aspect of building your dream stay-at-home business.
HELLO! I’M MICHELLE.
Find out more about me here.
I can actually so much relate to all these mentioned and at some point I forgot to draw a line between realistic and expectations. Try to push too much.
Great tips! I think knowing your limits is probably the most important. Maybe a fourth tip could be “Grow another pair of hands”. Ha ha, kidding!
Love the strategies! Can really feel and relate to it!
Good reminder about knowing your limitations. As I worked from home half the time, can totally relate to your “strategies”. To be able to work and take care of our young ones at the same time is such a blessing and limitation all in one.
Thanks for sharing tips and all the best to your book launch (soon!). 🙂
I agree! As FTWM, I also use these kind of strategies…multitasking is another thing that I do but that can sometimes take toll on health.
I dont think I can get any work done… ;( kudos to u…
Great tips especially about being open about our limitations!!! Very often, we are “people pleaser” that we forget we are human too…
Jamie Chaw
(http://karmie080808.blogspot.sg/)
This post totally struck a chord with me because even though i am a FTWM, I am also running a small business one that started off as a hobby so I know the importance of being realistic about what I can achieve in the day or the week. Balancing and juggling is still tough but I try my best to stick to a schedule that works for me and hopes for the best!
Btw the course sounds interesting and I think maybe even for FTWM with a side business can consider attending it so that they might even be able to grow their business and end up with a SAHM boss!
Thanks for sharing your experience and giving your tips on it.
Thanks for the tips! It really comes just in time when I am feeling all burned out with the business, new baby and stuff like that. Sometimes, it is just so hard to juggle…..