Anyone who has tried to start their own business knows how much time, money, energy, and planning are involved. And trying to raise a child at the same time makes it significantly more difficult. However, the rewards that come from becoming a mompreneur are immeasurable—whether it’s from making your own schedule, making more money, or making a change in your life.
For me, the change I needed was getting rest, and the added bonus was feeling a sense of purpose. My second child would fall asleep in my arms and then wake up the moment I put him down, which inspired me to create a line of sleep-assisting clothing for babies and infants.
Many of the tenets I have followed are ones that mompreneurs can also use to help them on their own entrepreneurial journeys.
How to juggle parenthood and business
1. Set clear boundaries
All work and no play will deplete your resources. It can be tempting to try and do both at once—to bring work files to your son’s soccer game or go over HR notes while you’re soaking in the bathtub. However, setting clear boundaries between your work time and your personal time will help you to be more fully present with whatever you are engaged in—whether it’s dreaming up new product ideas or braiding your daughter’s hair.
2. Manage time wisely
Parenting takes away most of your free time as children make constant demands on our time and energy. This is why efficiently managing time is crucial for mompreneurs, and prioritizing foundational business elements over minor details is key.
The best way to manage your time is to think ahead, organize, and prioritize. Starting your own business involves a lot of research, reading, and paperwork. Streamline your processes and find out what basics need to be put in place first. For example, focus on getting your business structure in order before worrying about the colors of your website.
Prioritizing personal care is imperative for mompreneurs. You cannot take good care of either your children or your business if you don't take good care of yourself first. Some simple ways to practice self-care include scheduling breaks, practicing mindfulness, and making sure you get enough rest.
4. Delegate and outsource
Many mompreneurs try to do it all and they will refer to their burgeoning business as “their baby.” Those feelings of ownership can make some women unwilling to ask for help or let someone else take charge because they’re afraid of what might happen if they don’t control every little detail.
Delegate! You cannot keep a death-grip on your business, and you absolutely cannot do everything on your own. Know your own strengths and weaknesses, find reliable help who can bolster you—both at home and at work—and bring in knowledge or experience that you don’t have.
5. Build a support system
Being a mompreneur can be lonely. While tending to both your children's and your business's needs, your own needs often get overlooked.
Moms have always gotten support by coming together and helping each other. Turning to and building a support network of fellow mompreneurs can provide guidance and camaraderie as you travel on this unique journey. Mompreneurs have a unique experience that only other moms who have been in the same position can fully understand.
Having a support group is about more than having a safety net; it’s about having a safe space and people you trust going through the same thing, who witness your efforts and can offer invaluable advice.
6. Stay organized
Photo by Brands&People on Unsplash
Whether your kids are in preschool (where's the diaper bag?) or in high school (did they do their homework?), as a mom, you are constantly thinking about them. When you add trying to run a business, staying organized is key to maximizing the efficiency of your days and nights.
Whether you need a giant whiteboard in the kitchen, daily reminders and alarms on your phone, or sticky notes pasted on the front door and the car dashboard, find what works best for you and be diligent. The successful mompreneur seeks out whatever tools will help her. Again, connecting with other mompreneurs will help your own journey go that much smoother.
7. Invest in self-development
You’re a mom and an entrepreneur, but you also need to be a student. By enrolling in courses, classes, and certifications related to your business, you are investing in yourself, broadening your horizons, and deepening your well of experience.
Continuous learning and self-improvement will make you a better leader, manager, business owner, and mother. I worked hard in the beginning as a mompreneur to teach myself as much as I could. My business grew out of my experience and my ideas—and it could only grow more if I learned more. It also puts you in the same room as other people who are on the same journey, helping with networking and making business connections.
8. Set realistic goals
Always set achievable goals for yourself, don’t beat yourself up if you have to move the goalposts, and remember to stay flexible. Your daughter could get sick the morning of a big meeting or your printer might decide that today isn’t the day to do the one thing it's designed for. Being a mompreneur means navigating additional and unique challenges. Adapt your goal-setting to reasonable standards: can you knock out all the taxes in one weekend or should you give yourself a month?
Being a mother can also mean running on empty. My lack of sleep drove me to find a solution that turned into a successful business. A negative became a positive, but it might have gone nowhere if I hadn’t been honest with myself about what I could and couldn’t achieve.
9. Celebrate small wins
When we hear about or see someone else's achievements, what we usually see is the end result: the viral Instagram post, the new brick-and-mortar store, the shout-out on TV. The blood, sweat, and tears that went into the inception, creation, and eventual successful launch remain unseen. This is why you need to celebrate your small achievements. The long journey of running your business will feel like a slog if you only ever think you have “made it” once you’ve achieved x, y, and z. Think smaller. Whether you register your domain name or buy a whiteboard for brainstorming ideas, celebrate!
A lot of the work you do will be invisible. No one else will see you staying up late and working nights because you were taking care of your kids, or recognize the effort you put into just getting by every day. Choose to honor yourself and your achievements—there won’t always be an audience to do it for you.
Being a mompreneur is a balancing act
The life of a mompreneur requires a blend of resilience, organization, and self-celebration. Remember, your achievements matter, both in business and motherhood.
While these tips are meant for everyone, every family is different and can have wildly varying needs, demands, and wants. Families can consist of two people only, or an extended sea of relatives. Finding a unique balance that works for you and your family is key.
Moms wear many hats—nurse, caregiver, listener, teacher, disciplinarian—and while this ability to transmute carries well into the business sphere, it is utterly awe-inspiring that mompreneurs can keep it all together. These amazing women deserve our respect, accolades, and—frankly—an uninterrupted full night of sleep.
FAQs about balancing business and motherhood
How do you balance business and motherhood?
Striking the balance requires a strategic approach involving setting clear boundaries, delegating tasks, embracing flexibility, having a support system of fellow mompreneurs, and prioritizing self-care.
What are mompreneurs struggling with?
Mompreneurs face various challenges that include handling the unique demands of parenting and business ownership, setting realistic goals, time constraints, and burnout.
Why do moms make great entrepreneurs?
Mothers excel in entrepreneurship with strengths in community building and organizational skills. They have an awe-inspiring capacity to multitask and balance diverse roles and responsibilities efficiently.
About the Author
Post by: Manasi Gangan
Manasi Gangan is the founder of Nested Bean, which addresses infant sleep challenges. With 20+ years in IT and consumer goods product development, she revolutionized the industry with sleepwear that simulates parental touch. Committed to innovation, Manasi's expertise extends globally, advocating for evidence-based sleep practices and empowering parents for healthier and happier babies.
Company: Nested Bean
Website:
www.nestedbean.com
Connect with me on
LinkedIn and Instagram.
