Though it's possible to balance motherhood and running your own business, it takes a lot of work. It's important to remember that your children come first, but it's also essential to squeeze in a little "me time" every day.
balancing act
As the owner of Divalysscious Moms, a luxury lifestyle company for mothers, and the mother of two young children, I am frequently asked how I balance motherhood while owning and operating my own business.
While every successful mother and business owner has her own recipe with ingredients that work for her as an individual, here are some tips that I like to give other mothers that are in similar situations: my “Divalysscious Tips” and the ingredients that work for my “Mommy Entrepreneur Recipe.”
Your children come first
Your children need to feel secure. Any email or phone call can and will be there after the children are happy and settled in. With today's technology, it seems that everything is urgent; however, your children's well-being comes first.
Prioritize
Make sure that your work can be done early in the morning before the children wake up. Yes, that means sometimes waking up at 4:30 a.m. to finish work… of course you will need a large cup of coffee!
Read about parenting and running a home-based business >>
Have a routine
Having breakfast with the children and taking my older son to school in the morning are crucial aspects of my daily life. Dinner, bath time, and bedtime are also extremely important for my children and for me. I try my best to put down the Blackberry and eat with the children, bathe them, read to them, and spend quality time with them before bed. After my boys are sleeping, I know that I can go back on the computer to finish up my work.
Have a “Mommy Time Out”
Moms that run their own businesses also need to take a few minutes out of their busy day for themselves. I have a strong philosophy that if Mom isn't happy then the children won't be happy, and with running your own business, many times things can be stressful. Take 10 minutes to meditate, get a quick 10-minute back massage at the local nail salon, look through a magazine, or make a phone call to a friend just to say hi. This time will rejuvenate you and allow you a much-needed break. You can find some other great MTO ideas in my book, If You Give A Mom A Martini: 100 Ways to Take 10 Blissful Minutes to Yourself.
Take a 5-minute mommy time out >>
Delegate
Always remember that being a mom and a business owner gives you the right to delegate the work, which means surrounding yourself with a great supportive team comprised of positive people with high energy. Make sure these are people you can trust and who can help you. My husband is my biggest supporter; at times he has to help with the children because I might need to be at a meeting, have to work late, etc. I know that I can count on my husband and vice versa for him, as he too has a highly demanding job. Delegate the errands with your family and caregiver, and do not be afraid to ask for help! It's always better to ask than to be completely overwhelmed.
Happy moms equal happy kids, and moms need to take "MTO" — mommy time outs — each and every day!
More about balance
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How to balance life as a single parent
Making money from home