Written by: Annette Densham, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It’s no secret that juggling motherhood and running a business is challenging. Putting some effort into aligning these two facets of your life can set you up for success.
Gail Eaton-Briggs from Everywhen Solutions lives and breathes, helping people juggle the many aspects of business and parenting.
“After speaking to several women in business, I asked them for their top mindset hacks for successfully running a business and being a parent,” she said. “The interesting thing was many of them shared that the key to successfully juggling all that comes their way starts and ends with self-care.”
Here are the five mindset hacks Gail says will help:
1. Outsource the hard stuff
You’re smart, capable and hardworking, but that doesn’t mean you should do it all. Outsourcing the tasks that eat up too much of your precious time will free you to focus on the things that matter.
At work, delegate some of your tasks or consider hiring a virtual assistant to help you cut down on your admin time. You can also outsource at home by using a meal delivery service or hiring a nanny to look after your kids a few hours a week.
Gail said behind every great mum and entrepreneur is a team of outsourced help. “Ignore that nagging voice saying you should do it all yourself and delegate, delegate, delegate,” she said.
2. Remember who’s number one
Spoiler alert: it’s you. If your wheels fall off, both your family and your business risk crashing around you. Self-care might be an overused word these days, but it’s critically important for both mums and entrepreneurs.
Gail said looking after yourself doesn’t need to involve long days at expensive spas. “It might be as simple as parking the car on the side of the road for 10 minutes and belting out your favourite song before picking up the kids from daycare,” she said. “Carving out small moments for yourself within your day will do wonders for your well-being.”
3. Seek out advice
It takes a village to be a mum and entrepreneur; that includes seeking wisdom to help you succeed in both areas of your life. In business, it pays to listen to your team’s input or hire a business coach. Inviting fresh perspectives can help you overcome challenges and grow your business.
Gail said with all the pressure mums feel to be effortlessly perfect at motherhood, asking for help can be daunting. “There are countless podcasts, books and online parenting classes that can help you sharpen your parenting skills without outing yourself as a ‘bad mother’ (you’re not!),” she said. “You could also engage a sleep consultant or parenting coach for a few sessions to gain valuable advice and insight.”
4. Stay on top of all your schedules
If you have an old-school calendar at home for family activities, an online calendar for business meetings, and scraps of paper with other important engagements floating around everywhere, you’re bound to forget important events.
Gail said block out your children’s activity times in your online calendar, and send meeting requests without delay for every business phone call you set up. “Centralising all your commitments will ensure you stay on top of everything,” she said.
5. Keep it simple
Embracing a minimalistic mindset can do wonders for your well-being. Eliminating clutter has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, improve focus, boost productivity, and even improve relationships with others.
Set up your home and workspace to make everything you need easily accessible and regularly clear out stuff you don’t use. Spending just a few hours a month doing this could have a significant impact on your work and home life.
Gail said no one said juggling work and family life was easy. “A few simple tweaks can streamline your life and boost your success and happiness,” she said.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Annette!
Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.
