So, just imagine this: you’ve just returned home with your baby, still adjusting to all things motherhood, and now it’s time to jump back into running your business. Now, this sounds overwhelming, right? Well, having to balance out those baby naps with conference calls might feel impossible, but with the right mindset, it’s totally doable.
The key is finding your rhythm and giving yourself some grace when it comes to streamlining your newborn. Now, everyone has different experiences, and every baby is different too. So at the end of the day, you’ll need to be realistic with yourself. But where exactly do you even begin?
Just Acknowledge the New Normal
Okay, so things have changed, and that’s okay! Balancing being a business owner with motherhood is a new challenge. So, instead of thinking you need to keep up with your old routine, embrace the shift. You’ve just gone through a huge life change, and your business doesn’t have to be perfect right away.
Yes, you read that right, instead, just prioritize what matters most for your company’s success and let go of the idea that you need to handle everything yourself. Delegating is your friend, whether that’s leaning on your team or outsourcing specific tasks.
Set Boundaries Between Business and Baby Time
It’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in two directions—running a business while taking care of your newborn is no small feat. If you have horrible clients, well, they’re not going to care how short your maternity leave was. So, that’s why boundaries are going to be your lifeline. You’ll need to create clear lines between work time and baby time.
Now, this means that you’ll need to set realistic working hours that allow you to still focus on both roles without feeling overwhelmed. For example, maybe it’s working in shorter blocks during naps or finding a chunk of time during the evening. Whatever schedule you choose, being fully present during those dedicated hours—both for work and baby—will reduce stress.
Stay Flexible, Because Babies are Unpredictable
You can have the best plans in place, but babies? They love to shake things up. So, like it or not, but flexibility will be crucial when you’re running your business and caring for a little one. Some days you’ll get loads done, and other days?
You’ll be lucky to cross off one item from your to-do list. And that’s okay! Don’t stress when things don’t go as planned. So, ideally, it’s best to adjust when needed and focus on the tasks that are truly essential to keeping your business running smoothly.
Celebrate All Milestones
Just like celebrating your baby’s milestones, or even mommy’s milestones) like figuring out when can baby sleep with blanket, you’re also going to want to celebrate your own achievements, no matter how big or small. Did you land a new client this month? Managed to meet your sales goals despite juggling diapers and feeding schedules?
Well, what are you doing? You need to celebrate those wins! Sure, it’s easy to get caught up in what still needs to be done, but recognizing your progress is important for keeping your momentum going.
Automate Where You Can
If there’s one thing that can save you time as a business owner-slash-mom, it’s automation. If you haven’t started that now, then please get to it! Now, just look at your current processes and figure out which ones can be automated. For example, it might be social media posts, emails, invoicing—but these things don’t have to take up your valuable time.
Lean on Your Support System
Running a business and being a parent is a lot, so don’t be afraid to lean on your support system. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who it is, like your partner, family, friends, or even a trusted business colleague, but having a network of support makes all the difference.
This could mean getting help with child care, allowing you to carve out time for work, or having a business partner step in for some tasks while you adjust. (a lot of businesses tend to need this one). So, trying to do everything alone will only burn you out, so let others take some of the load off when they can.
Know When to Ask for Help
It goes with above, but it needs to be hammered down a bit more! So, running a business means you’re used to being in control, but after maternity leave, knowing when to ask for help is critical. Maybe your schedule is tighter than ever, or you’re struggling to balance everything at once.Just look into hiring someone, outsourcing, or just something else to lighten the load.