Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs in the world – and it gets even more challenging if you are also running a business. You might start to feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, and this can cause stress and upset.
Thankfully it is possible to be a great parent and a successful business owner; you just need to now how to make the most out of your time.
Here are eight tips to help you balance parenting and running a business.
1. How To Balance Parenting And Running A Business: Find Reliable Childcare
Reliable childcare is a godsend for most parents who own businesses. After all, you never know when you will need to meet a supplier or make an unexpected trip to the office! So try to find two or three forms of dependable childcare that you can rely on; this could be your mum, your partner and a paid childcare service (you may need to look for an out of hours childcare service if you work long hours).
2. Be Prepared To Work Strange Hours
It can be very difficult to stick to a 9 to 5 working schedule when you own a business and have children, so be prepared to work strange hours. It can feel a little strange sending emails at midnight, but if it means you get to spend the evening with your children it is well worth it!
3. Be Protective Of Family Time
It can be tempting to prioritise business demands over family demands. After all, the business pays the bills – but in reality you should be protective of family time too. Both aspects of your life are equally important, and you are more likely to experience burnout if you feel like you are missing out on important family time.
4. Automate When You Can
There are hundreds of affordable (or even free) automation tools that can make your life easier. For instance, if your website has social media pages you can schedule posts and responses so that you don’t have to log on every day. This is a great way to free up more time you can spend with your kids.
5. Outsource When You Can
You can also outsource simple admin tasks that take up a lot of time. This will reduce your daily workload, but that isn’t all; if you choose a quality virtual assistant, they may even do the job better than you could have!
6. Don’t Forget About “Me Time”
Family time and work time are both important, but don’t forget about ‘me time’ as well. It is important to have some time to yourself every day, whether this is a long bath or 30 minutes watching your favourite TV show. This will make you happier and more proactive, which will benefit both your family and your business.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Say No
Children, businesses and general life commitments can demand a lot of your time, so it is important to learn how to say no sometimes. Make sure you are dedicating your time to things that truly matter to you, rather than simply doing things to make other people happy.
8. Be Realistic
Finally it is important to be realistic. Each day only has 24 hours (and you need to spend at least six of those sleeping). You won’t be able to achieve everything every single day; in fact, some days will probably feel very unproductive! So set realistic expectations, and try not to be too hard on yourself.
