Balancing CEO and Mum Life

As a mum of three under three who also happens to be a business owner, I’m always trying to figure out ways to balance my babies and my business. 

It’s okay to love both your babies and your career! I know many mums worry that their career will stop once they have babies, but that isn’t the case if you don’t want it to be.

The trick to successfully managing both motherhood and CEO life is simple: balance! I am constantly asked by other mums how I balance my business responsibilities with being present for my babies.

It’s important to remember that everyone is different and what works for me may not be the solution for you. However, I have found that there are a few tricks that make balancing babies and business much easier.

• Use a planner
  Plan out both your week and your kids’ week in advance so that there are no surprises waiting for you. Make note of any important phone calls, appointments, or key tasks you have to take care of.I suggest keeping a calendar with a to-do list somewhere central in your home where everyone can see what is happening that week on the homefront.I also recommend separating your home and work priorities into two different to-do lists but keep them in the same place for easy planning in case you need to juggle anything around.

• Build time for yourself into your day
  Make room for some time that’s just for you during your day. I like to wake up before my kids do at about 5am. This gives me two whole hours in the morning to exercise, get some work done, or take care of tasks around the house.If you prefer to work this time into your day after the kids go to bed or when they’re napping, that’s okay too! Just make sure that you set a consistent time to fit in those activities you may not otherwise have a pocket for during the day and then stick to that time being just for you.

• Give yourself a break
  You may feel like Wonder Woman sometimes (especially on those days both your babies and clients need you NOW) but it isn’t good or healthy to always be juggling a hundred different responsibilities.
  Don’t beat yourself up if you occasionally need to take a break from being “on” for your business and babies 100% of the time. It doesn’t make you a bad mum or business owner — it makes you human.

• Delegate, delegate, delegate!
  If you are lucky enough to have other hands on deck both at home and in your business, take advantage of it! If you have childcare, optimize your work schedule around the hours when your babies will be looked after. If you have an assistant or team member(s), delegate any tasks that are a time suck or don’t fit into your highest priorities for that day.If you don’t have childcare or business support, ask for help from your loved ones! See if a trusted friend or family member can watch the kids for a block of time while you get some work done, or set up a play-date with another family.It’s okay to ask for help even when you don’t have work to finish, too. Like I said in the point above, setting aside time for self-care is ESSENTIAL when balancing mum life and business. Sometimes you just need an hour or two to yourself to take a nap, read a book, or watch a film for fun.

• Prioritize time with the babies
  No matter how busy you are with your business, this time with your babies is time you’ll never get back again. At the end of the day, kids come first in our household, which is why I block out time to spend with just them, doing the things they love.No business. No wandering thoughts. Just quality time with my babies.When you set aside time to be 100% present with your babies, you won’t feel guilty when you have to be 100% present focusing on your work.

• Know that you’re doing amazing
  Being a mum while running a business is NOT easy. You’re doing an amazing job, so don’t ever feel guilty for working hard and building a better life for your family. One of the benefits of owning YOUR OWN business is that you can decide when it’s time to lean into business or take a step back.If you feel like you are prioritizing mum life over business, or the other way around, you have the flexibility to adjust the scales and create balance. If you need to rest and spend time with family, rest! If you feel creative and inspired by your business, go after that feeling! You are in control.Always remember that you are setting an amazing example for your babies by fearlessly going after your dreams. Motherhood is a balancing act and you’re doing an extraordinary job raising children while creating and running a business. Nothing about this is easy! (That’s where wine and coffee come in.)

Let me know in the comments what your best tips are for balancing babies and business. Everybody has a different approach, and I’d love to hear yours!

Olivia x