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Article Running a business around children in 7 easy steps

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We all know that it is both fun and a challenge running your own business but then add raising children to that mix and some days it’s almost impossible!

Here are my tips to juggling a business AND children all while remaining sane!

1) Get support

This is really important. Sometimes we feel like we have to do it all ourselves but we can’t always.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone for help or hire help.

If you can afford it get a cleaner. Trying to balance, children, a business and keeping the house clean is a big ask. Think about your hourly rate and how many hours it would take you to clean your house and compare that to what it costs in your hours and then how much it will cost for a cleaner. Is it worth you doing it yourself? Probably not!

Ask family and rely on them as much as you can. If it is just simply picking up the kids from school or day care this can give you back 30 – 60 min in your day. It’s amazing what you can get done with this extra bit of time. Even carpooling with a friend may help. You take their child one day and they take yours the next.

2) Set goals

Have a planning session. Write down everything that you want to achieve in the short term and long term. Don’t put them in any particular order just brain dump everything you wish to achieve.

Then sit down and sort them into most wanted/important too least important. Then divide into short and long term goals. This will even work for daily goals, just focus on what you want the end result to be and just do it.

Put the goals somewhere you can see them each time and make yourself aware of them.

3) Schedule

Schedule everything, school events, client appointments, particular jobs you have to do, time with your partners, personal appointments, absolutely everything. This will ensure that you not only remember what has to be done but scheduling helps you structure everything that has to be done.

Remember to schedule some ‘you’ time as well, this is so important.

4) Get organised

Organise your office, being organised will save you so much time.

How much time do you spending looking for something that should be easy to find.

Get rid of clutter that clogs up your office, scan files to reduce the amount of paperwork in the office, set up systems that simply work better or just move an item that you use regularly onto a lower shelf.

Sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference.

5) Find events that suit

There are many networking events available, it’s important to find ones that suit you and continue to attend them to build a rapport.

There is no point going to events that do not suit your business or do not have the right people you can connect with. Take the time to find the right networking groups and the right people to refer to and get referrals from. It may take a bit of time up front but will save you time in the long run once you get the right connections.

6) Learn how to say NO

As women we have a bad habit of always saying yes, wanting to be super mum and do it all.

Sometimes we have to realise our limits and learn to say no.

You have to look after yourself, your business and your family. Sometimes something has to give.

7) Listen to your children

We can get very wrapped up with running a business and trying to juggle everything that sometimes we forget about really listening what our children are telling us.

Sure we can be attending events in our children’s lives, doing their homework with them, running them from one activity to the next activity, running a household AND running a business around all of this, but do we really take the time to listen to what our children want?

Are they telling you that you are spending too much time in your office, saying they never see you or commenting that you are always on the computer?

Chances are they are telling you that they want to spend more time with you.

Learn to really listen to what they are telling you and you will have a fulfilled business and family life balance.

How do you balance your life? Please share your ideas in the comments below.

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Comments

  • In this situation, I think having support is extremely important.

    Reply

  • Just using common sense really.

    Reply

  • On paper, you make it look so easy, I wonder how I would go actually attempting it? Won’t know til I try I suppose

    Reply

  • Saved the page to refer to, thank you. :)

    Reply

  • Great tips all could use on a daily basis. thanx.

    • You are very welcome, glad they helped.

    Reply

  • Definitely has its challenges thank you so much for sharing your tips!!

    • Sure does Shelley but rewarding as well.

    Reply

  • I work from home 3 days a week and have done since my son started school. Before that, my Mum would look after my son so I could work, or I would do it when he was asleep/napping. Once he started school, I worked within school hours only. As he got older, I would continue work after school pick-up until dinner time. I’ve been very fortunate to have a flexible option and a boss who totally understands. It hasn’t been easy though and requires ORGANISATION, MOTIVATION and DISCPLINE for it to work well and this took time to work into. But it’s worth it.

    • That is awesome that your boss provides that flexibility. There should be more of it but it is getting there to some degree.

    Reply

  • Really useful tips ,thanks Paula.

    Reply

  • Great points for helping to run the family in general.

    Reply

  • Great information for someone who has own business or thinking of starting one. It really is a balancing act.

    • It most definitely is a balancing act Rachael, but us mums are very good at that. :)

    Reply
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