Written by: Gina Redzanic, 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.
The balance of work and motherhood can often feel like an impossible goal to achieve. I mean, how exactly do we “create balance”? It almost feels like the word balance doesn’t even belong when speaking of all the responsibilities moms have today.
Instead of working typical 9 to 5 jobs, women are turning toward entrepreneurship owning their own small businesses, and leveraging their skills from the corporate world into marketable opportunities. Many moms are looking for flexibility, while others have the dream and vision to fill a niche with a product or service that helps them enrich the lives of other women and contribute to their communities. And this is great but women are seeing the demands of entrepreneurship and motherhood combined.
Creating the right balance between work and life is understandably challenging for enterprising mothers, but it is one area where I feel I have done a pretty good job.
My husband and I started our first business when I was pregnant with our first daughter. Both my daughters have just grown up in an environment where the business building is one of my priorities. So let me share my 5 best lessons for balancing work and motherhood.
Lesson 1: Develop a Routine based on Priorities
Prioritizing your daily tasks can help break down larger jobs into more manageable steps. Take five minutes each morning to make a list of what you need to accomplish for the day. Creating a routine where you complete the “urgent” tasks first starts a habit of making sure the greatest needs of both work and home are met.
For those balancing their work with motherhood, having some wiggle room in the “work part” of your day can be a lifesaver if there’s a parent-teacher conference, field trip, or doctor’s appointment. Your routine should include setting aside devoted time for work as well as focused time for family.
Share the schedule with your family. For example, the other day, my daughter wanted to show me her video while I was in the middle of watching a training course. I simply said, “Avery, I would love to watch your video and spend time with you. Let me focus on this important course right now. I will be finished in 20 minutes, then I will have time to spend with you. Does that sound good?” And she agreed. This also showed her that mommy needs to find time for different things throughout the day, but it also lets her know she is so important to me as well.
Lesson 2: Set Daily Goals that Allow for Flexibility
You can categorize your work tasks into 4 boxes:
Things you don’t want to do, and actually don’t need to do.
Things you don’t want to do, but actually need to do.
Things you want to do and actually need to do.
Things you want to do, but actually don’t need to do.
When you use the above criteria to set goals, it allows you time flexibility and can relieve the onset of overwhelm.
Lesson 3: Give Yourself Grace
Even the most flexible, mindful, scheduled mom/business owner has limitations. Realizing when to take some of the pressure off your work is important to avoid burnout. Many business owners and entrepreneurs understand the value of a strong work ethic and the fact that hard work will beat talent, but the key point here is to also make time to enjoy the process as well as the journey.
When you are working, be present. When you are with family, be present. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and thinking of work when you are with your family and vice versa.
Lesson 4: Find Time for Self-Care
You work hard, both building your business and building your family. When you have spare time, do you find yourself doing small work tasks, or squeezing in housework? Motherhood and building and running a business are stressful, there is a need for self-care.
Spending time exercising, meditating, or unwinding with a peaceful hobby or good book can do wonders for your mental and emotional state. In fact, deliberately carving time out of your day – even 30 minutes – for alone time and self-care can make a world of difference in avoiding burn-out and preserving your enthusiasm for both your business and your family life.
Lesson 5: Learn from other “Mompreneurs”
It is always great to find other moms who are like-minded with their personal vision and business goals. Everyone can support, collaborate, and, best of all, learn from each other. I recently co-authored a book “Becoming an Unstoppable Woman Mompreneur” This is a collaborative effort of working moms coming together to give our best inspiration and advice. It is like a blueprint for any mom in business.
Just remember, you got this, mama! You are purpose-driven and meant to STAND OUT, RISE, and THRIVE!
Gina Redzanic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gina Redzanic is a self-made network marketing millionaire, Success Coach, and John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Trainer specializing in Leadership Development. As a busy mom of 2 daughters, Gina balances motherhood and her career through many of the habits and practices she teaches her clients and team. Gina has been featured on Yahoo! Finance, named Top 10 Leadership Coaches in Influencive, and is a contributing author in the best-selling network marketing book series, Momentum Makers. Gina is God-driven and Goal-driven and uses personal development techniques to help others break down their business blocks, take control of their future, and reach success without the presence of "burnout."
