It’s a familiar battle most mums face – how do you balance business and babies? I myself have faced the exact same battle.
What if you LOVE your babies, but you are also ambitious and LOVE your career? Does that mean that your career has to stop? The short answer; ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The number one question I get asked by other mums is “HOW ON EARTH do you balance everything and fit it all in?!”
Well, if there’s one thing for sure, EVERY one is different however I have found that there are three key pillars which help to balance business and babies with ease.
Plus, a little something called coffee and wine ?!
1. Use weekly and daily planners
Planning is the key to an organised life. Set yourself up for success by planning properly!
Use weekly and daily planners to map out your week and any appointments or key events. My Sunday ritual includes sitting down after the kids are asleep and completing the weekly planner for the following week.
Once finished – put this on the fridge so everyone can see the planner and knows what is happening that week. The daily planners can be completed the night before or morning of and list out any key tasks, appointments or phone calls to make that day.
My FAVOURITE to do list has home & work priorities on the same pad – I swear by and helps to compartmentalise the family tasks from the business tasks.
2. Do your grocery shopping online
Doing your grocery shopping online can save countless hours running around at the shops. This is SO much easier than trying to juggle kids at the grocery store!
You can plan your meals perfectly so you know exactly what to buy when you put your shopping list. This has saved us THOUSANDS of dollars as we used to throw away so much fruit and vegetables from incorrectly shopping when under pressure at the store.
For example; I always order ingredients for quick 20-minute dinners on the days that I know I will be finishing late at the office. That way when I get home, I can quickly chuck something together and have dinner on the table within 20 minutes. Saves on UberEATS and Chinese take-out!
Aussie mama’s: I shop at Coles – I’ve tried both and I just prefer it more.
3. Get up before the kids do
Get up a little bit earlier than the kids do if you need to fit in exercise, study or extra work!
I usually wake up around 5am which gives me an extra two hours in the morning to get things done; study, work or exercise.
This is a habit you will need to form cold turkey. Stop snoozing your alarm – get up and go! It gets easier every day.
4. Have a growth mindset
Fall in love with the art of self-development. LEARN, GROW, INVEST IN YOURSELF.
You are a better mum and business woman by doing so. Use your spare time to read a book, listen to a podcast or learn a new skill. Stop the endless scroll on social media!
Podcasts are a great way to learn and develop while still allowing you to do your daily tasks. Grab some headphones and listen while you’re cleaning or driving.
BONUS TIP: Read before bed instead of scrolling through Instagram. It calms your mind down and prepares it for sleep as opposed to firing it up!
5. Get out of your comfort zone every day
Expand your mindset and open yourself up to new things. Get out of your comfort zone every day.
Your mind wants you to be comfortable; it doesn’t want you to try new things. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will help you get out of your bubble.
We can easily become content at home and not ever leave the house. Get the pram, get to a local play cafe; step outside and do things to mix up your scenery and expose yourself to new opportunities!
6. Develop healthy eating habits
There’s a reason why you should put your oxygen mask on before a child’s. It’s because if you run out of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else with their oxygen mask.
Maintaining good health is key to balancing business and babies. This means, eating good food and drinking lots of water.
Consume healthy foods like lean meats, fruit and vegetables. Take a multivitamin for extra energy. Your body will eliminate what it doesn’t need.
BONUS TIP: My go-to healthy dinner is this Clean Lasagna, it’s a FAN favourite and is so easy to make.
7. Find ways to stay active
Choose an exercise program that’s right for you. Hate cardio? Great – go take a Pilates class. The key is to find an exercise program that you love so exercising isn’t a chore.
Staying active helps you mentally, physically and emotionally. For me, I’m in A LOT better head space when I stay active. It’s also good time out from the kids!
Aussie mama’s: I go to KXPilates North Adelaide and LOVE it. It’s actually quite challenging and has been so good for my body. I’ve never felt better!
8. Be flexible and understanding
Sometimes you just have to reschedule things and not everything will always go to plan.
Be flexible if you do have to cancel and don’t let it get to you. Be honest, make a joke – people understand what it’s like to have kids and juggle work at the same time.
It is so important to be flexible and understanding with yourself. You can’t be perfect all the time so find the beauty in changing up your plans and rescheduling things when you have to.
I promise you; it’s not the end of the world!
9. Invest in wireless head phones
Apple Airpods changed my life. Hands free calls make life SO much easier and I no longer have a sore neck from being on the phone with a shrugged shoulder.
Imagine doing the daily tasks like washing the dishes, vacuuming or changing nappies while on the phone and having use of BOTH your hands. EPIC.
Be careful of the mic though, they are very powerful. I learnt this the hard way when a supplier I was on a call with asked if there was a frog in the background.
No sir, that’s just my Medela breast pump pumping away! Insert awkward face.
10. Don’t do tasks you can do when the kids are awake, when they are sleeping!
Simple, yet effective. Don’t do tasks you can do when the kids are awake, when they are sleeping! Save the dishes and get on top of your emails or that important task that you need to silence for instead.
When the kids are up, you can set them up with an activity and do some tidying in that room. Or, set them up with their lunch and do the dishes while you’re all in the same room together.
It’s much harder to be focused on work when the kids are awake, so choose the sleeping times to do the more important work tasks you need silence to get achieved. Save your sanity.
11. Block out time to spend with them – be present.
At the end of the day, the kids come first in our household. I block out time to spend with just them – doing the things they love. Sitting in the playroom together, reading books, going for walks and taking them to the local play café.
Be 100% present with them when you’re there so you don’t feel guilty when you’re 100% present with your work.
Finally:
- You’re amazing. Don’t ever feel guilty for working hard and building a better life for your family.
- Rest when you need it. Life is about BALANCE.
- Be fearless and forever in pursuit of your dreams. FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY.
I think it’s important to note that while we have some AMAZING weeks and get so much achieved, other times the week just doesn’t go to plan. We all have bad days, and sometimes we have bad weeks. That is 100% NORMAL, just be kind to yourself during those times.
Motherhood is a balancing act and we do an AMAZING job creating and then raising children in addition to balancing business too.
Have you tried any of these tips for balancing business and babies before? Do you have other ideas you could suggest? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.