Becoming a mompreneur is tough. You know it’s worth it, but when you feel like all you do is work, it’s hard to see things clearly. Day in and day out, you work yourself to the bone, tired and exhausted.
There’s no such thing as a day off: every day is a workday.
Working two jobs, all while raising kids, can make you a sad, stressed and negative person, one who feels hopeless and overwhelmed.
Add to the copious hours of work the sense of isolation that comes with closeting yourself away to make your business dreams happen as soon as possible, limiting your contact with the outside world and it’s a recipe for a mental breakdown.
But it doesn’t have to be. You can be a successful mompreneur without losing who you are as a person. You can do a great job, both at parenting and at starting your business, as long as you’re careful to care for yourself in the process.
If you follow a few friendly tips, the entire process becomes more joy and accomplishment than stress and negativity.
Get Out of the House
Being cooped up in the house 24/7 is bad for your mental health. Besides, it’s not exactly fun staring at the same space day in and day out.
Instead, take your laptop and go get some fresh air. Go sit at a park or outdoor cafe, really live the life you’ve envisioned for yourself. Sip a latte while you work on your latest project.
When you get home you will feel refreshed instead of frazzled – promise. As a bonus, your home will no longer remind you only of work and feel like – let’s be honest here – prison. Instead, it will become your sanctuary.
Reconnect With Your Friends and Family
While it may feel like you have no time for friendships, they’re crucial to your well-being. Without people to bounce ideas off of and relieve stress with, tension will continue to build in your body until you feel like breaking.
Nurture relationships with those you love, those who support your goals and dreams. It can be something as simple as a lunch date. Even an hour away can help you decompress and feel more like the person you used to be.
Set a Strict Schedule
It can be tempting to say yes to every project and freelance job offered to us. Whether we think it will help grow our business or we simply feel guilty when we tell others no, it’s important not to slide into this habit.
Write down your true priorities, and say no to everything else. If it won’t grow your business or help you have a happier, more productive life, learn to say no.
Hard as it may be, guarding your time will help you feel better than you have in years, and you’ll reach your goals that much quicker.
Work Smarter
You know that old saying; work smarter, not harder? There’s a lot more truth in that than you might realize. Taking frequent breaks can help keep you refreshed instead of bogged down.
One way to incorporate this into your routine is by using the Pomodoro technique. This is when you work for a set period of time, typically 25 minutes, and then have a set break, typically five minutes. These frequent breaks keep your mind fresh and ready to learn.
Another way to work smarter instead of harder is by hiring out everything you can afford. A virtual assistant can be incredibly helpful when it comes to taking your business to the next level. Keeping things simple will make everything easier to accomplish.
Seek Therapy
As someone with as much on their plate as you do, it’s important to take time out of your busy schedule to talk out your feelings. This doesn’t have to be a professional, though a therapist can help you overcome anything you are struggling with.
It can be as simple as calling up a friend every now and again to hash out some issues you’ve been having with a project, or as complex as hiring a personal life coach to keep you on track. There are no right or wrong choices here. Just know that it’s important to go down this road with plenty of support backing you.
Final Words
Becoming a mompreneur is a daunting but incredibly rewarding task. There is a lot of work involved and often many sacrifices. Don’t let your personal health, either mental or physical, be something you give up in your quest to hit your goals.
Remember to work smarter, not harder, and everything will fall into place. Working multiple jobs seems hard now, and might not seem worth it. Rest assured, it is. You’ll be sure of it when you have the life you’ve always dreamed of, and your kids do as well.
Image Credit: Unsplash.com
Have you found being a Mompreneur terribly difficult or a joy? Or a mixture of both pleasure and pain? I certainly feel the rewards outweigh the sacrifices. IF you stay the course.
About the Author:
Ashley Wilson is a freelance writer interested in business, marketing, and tech topics.
She has been known to reference Harry Potter quotes in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga.
You can get in touch with Ashley via Twitter.