i'm no wonder woman on this subject, it's taken a while for me to get where i am now but there's a few things i've learnt in my past year of business that i think would be of help to other busy business mums who find themselves struggling to fit everything into the day. since moving, my son spends every waking moment of the day with me until we send him to a nursery, so i'm learning to be better. so, in no particular order i'm going to list some tips and advice on what helps me manage my time, be more productive and generally cope running TWO businesses and being a full time mum...
- get up early, it's such an obvious tip i know but i get so much more done if i wake up an hour before my son wakes up. i have time to get a quick shower, listen to a motivational podcast, have some breakfast and then start marketing my blog and businesses on social media
- be strict with your time.. it s so easy to waste hours on facebook or twitter, there's so many distractions, so know what it is you need to get done and give yourself 30 minutes to an hour and then move onto your next task.
- sometimes getting out of the house can inspire all sorts of creativity and keep you sane. just go for a short walk to the park or sit in the garden and look up (weather permitting) it helps to give your mind a break. or even just step back from the computer and do a couple of chores, simply washing up dishes gives me enough time to re-collect my thoughts and move forward.
- put time aside for the important things in your child's schedule - i ALWAYS make a point of sitting and eating together, having time to play together or simply read him a book or two before bed time, these are precious times and memories that i'll never get back, and also the reason i want to work from home so i don't feel like i'm neglecting my own child!
- luckily, there seems to be much more support for women in business; franchises are popping up all the time across the UK, so seek out a local women's meet up. being surrounded by like minded people is really encouraging and can boost your productivity, as the new branch leader of Networking Mummies Bournemouth it's my job to support and connect women in business together, see if there's a branch in your area via THIS link
- relating to the last point, go out and meet new people. go to your local play groups and toddler times, making new friends not only will build your confidence it's an easy way to expand your business and get support from people within your community
- there are so many FREE tools on the internet and advice that you can seek out on time management, marketing your brand and general nitty gritty bits in business. or sometimes it may be worth investing in a mentor that will help you prioritise your ideas. i've been really enjoying listening to the Mum to Millionaire podcast which is full of amazing collaborations with business experts. i've also just discovered The Power of WE series by creative bloggers and entrepreneurs
- write a daily or weekly to do list, prioritise your tasks and break down bigger things into more manageable steps. this really helps me keep on track, if i get distracted during the day or week, i just go back to that sheet of paper and remember what i need to do to move forward. i don't do a to do list every day but each Sunday evening i'll fill out my 7 day plan for the next week. remember to keep them short, don't overwhelm yourself!
- sometimes the demands of my son are more important than scheduling posts (for example).. if he's unwell i'll take a day off and give him my undivided attention. or if i've spent a few hours ticking off tasks or doing bits and bobs on the computer i'll give him a solid amount of time where we play together.
- ask somebody you can rely on to help keep you on track, so i've actually teamed up with somebody in my industry to do weekly or even daily skype calls or just simple text messages to say hey how're you getting on? we set each other (realistic) challenges and make sure they do them. this helps motivate me as i know somebody will ask what i've done, if i can't answer honestly then i know i'm not doing enough.
- last, but not least always make time for YOU, it's impossible to be a good mum and a productive business owner if you're not at ease and in control. sometimes we need a nice soak in the bath with no distractions, or a gentle walk without a toddler to push around.
wow that's 11 tips to help you juggle motherhood and business! i didn't realise i had so much to say until i started writing it down. i hope this advice helps some of you out there struggling. what's your best advice for mums in business? i'd love to know!
Labels: business, business woman, mother, motherhood
