I’m going to be honest: life as a mompreneur (mom + entrepreneur) is no joke. Balancing family commitments, work, and time for myself can be extremely challenging. But, it’s a life I wouldn’t trade for the world. Running my own photography business has taught me a few things about how to successfully run a business with a family and still enjoy my life along the way. Here are a few of the top things I’ve learned about being a mompreneur….
Waking up before your kids = essential for mompreneur life
Most importantly, I wake up before my children. Let’s be honest, when our kids wake us up in the mornings, they often need us right away. My son Max goes right into asking me for eggs, and my daughter Bella is ready for toast or cereal. This can be a hectic way to start my day.
To combat this, I get up at 5am so I can have some alone time before my kids wake up at 7am. This time gives me some space to complete any random, small tasks on my to-do list and drink my coffee in peace and quiet. I also try to practice five minutes of meditation each morning to quiet my mind, which is a huge help to my mental health. If I’m being honest, even five minutes can be difficult, but it’s a practice I’m working on improving. After meditating, I like to write my goals and dreams in my Start Today Journal and then start my day with my kids.
Time management and preparation is key for mompreneurs
If I have a task that needs my full attention or am with my family, I put my phone away so I can really be present. Meal planning and preparing meals in advance helps me not have to waste time on cooking while I’m working or with my kids.
Also, the more I can put in paper (versus just trying to remember it all in my head) the better! A “brain dump”—meaning taking intentional time to write out all the tasks and ideas swirling around in my brain—helps me feel less overwhelmed by all of my to-do’s, or as I like to say, get-to-do’s. I also like to create ordered lists of the tasks I need to complete for the various projects I’m working on.
Related: What Should a Wedding Photographer Wear?
When my kids are with me, work on things I can do with them
I’ve learned to take a step away from my photography work when my kids are around. If I don’t do that, all of the interruptions become frustrating for me, and it’s unfair to them. Instead, when my kids are with me, I work on the things I can do with them, like preparing food for my work days and keeping up with the house. I love to have my kids help me with these tasks, because they get to feel involved and learn valuable life skills.
My biggest mompreneur lesson of 2019: hire out
My biggest mompreneur lesson this year was learning I cannot run this business alone, trying to get all my work done within just two days a week. Rather, I’ve learned to outsource work that was really frustrating for me to do, like posting on Pinterest. Who has time to learn a whole new website or software? Honestly, hiring a virtual assistant was the best thing I have done in 2019. I couldn’t recommend Second Fiddle more!
Get a workout in!
From experience as a mompreneur, I know we often put our health on the back burner for our families or work. However, it’s so important to at least spend 30 minutes moving your body for both physical and mental health. Plus, I get two free hours of childcare at the YMCA, which is the perfect amount of time to workout, shower and check my emails uninterrupted. If possible, I highly recommend finding a gym that offers childcare…that alone time is such a luxury!
Before the wedding season this year, it was a must for me to workout. Now, I’m working to get back to having a consistent workout schedule. I try to prepare my clothes the day before so I have one less reason to skip my workout. To help with motivation, I recommend these books for tips on how to create healthy habits and get out of your own way: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business and Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself
Bonus: Mindset matters!
The key to being a successful mompreneur truly starts in your head and heart. Whether it’s working on your business or working out, your mindset matters. If you haven’t heard of Mel Robbins, her Ted Talk is a must watch. It will help you understand your decision making and help transform it. Her teaching has changed my life, and I hope it impacts you, too!
To my fellow mompreneurs, do you have any tips on balancing work and family life that have helped you? If so, I would love to hear them!
Xoxo, Marcela
