Mompreneur Talk: 4 Tips For Balancing Work and Home

After finding out we were expecting a baby and feeling burnt out from working shift work at the hospital, I set out on a mission to create a new job for myself and become a mompreneur. I wanted to run a business that I could do from home to spend quality time with my little one. 

This was so important for me to do because when I was 16 years old, I had my first baby. I had to send him to daycare at four months old so that I could finish grade 11 - and this was unbelievably hard to do. This time around, I wanted to do things differently. 

It's a Mom's World: What Does It Really Take to Be a Mompreneur?

Between naps, making lunches, and kissing boo-boos, more and more moms are starting a business of their own. But, do you have what it takes to be a mompreneur?

Let's face it: moms know absolutely everything. They know where their kids left their shoes and when every bottle feed, nap and lunchtime is. They know how to keep a teething babe calm and how to put an overtired child to sleep at night. Is it any wonder mothers make such good business owners?

Yet, the reality is that being a mompreneur takes a lot of hard work. If you are wondering how to balance work and home life as a working mom, you're not alone. That's why I want to share some tips that I have found helpful on my mompreneur journey. 

As a hard-working business owner and a family-focused mom, four key things have helped me balance work and home life: a daily schedule, support from my spouse, quality family time, and being strategic about how I work

1- Keep a Daily Schedule

I have found it necessary to keep a daily schedule and follow it as best as possible. This stops me from feeling like a deer in the headlights, not knowing where or how to start the million daily tasks I have in front of me. But, this is easier said than done, believe me. There will be days when I try to pack as many orders as possible with a toddler crawling all over me like a jungle gym. 

This is all part of being a mompreneur. It is essential to know that this is normal. Setting yourself a daily routine will help you keep track of your work responsibilities while also allowing you to have quality time with your little ones.

2- Be Strategic About How and When You Work

Between launching new product drops during important family dinners and dropping off our toddler at Grandma's house while we try to make it to our baby's ultrasound appointment on time - I sometimes even amaze myself at how I manage to do everything at once. But we moms know how to get it done!  

Yet, knowing how to manage your time as a working mom involves a bit of strategizing. Plan your work tasks so that they align with your child's schedule. For example, I often reply to emails and messages while my toddler eats her lunch. Or, I run to the post office for order drop-offs and deliveries during nap times. Need to keep the house in one piece and clean? Plan this for when work is a little quieter in the day.

3- Have Some Quality Time As a Family

Being a mompreneur can sometimes feel a little all-consuming. But, it is always important to put work aside and schedule some quality time as a family. This could be as simple as sitting down to have breakfast or dinner together. After all, you can't be a mompreneur without being a MOM first. 

7 o'clock bedtime is a must in our house for our own sanity. While we love spending time with our children, it's also essential to schedule quality time as a couple. Once our toddler goes down to bed, my husband and I can spend some time together after a busy day!

4- Get Support From Your Spouse

Help and support from my spouse are critical as a mompreneur. Whether it is taking care of the baby for a few hours while I pack orders, providing business support, or playing with Luca while I go for a 30-minute workout to release some stress! I don't know what I would do without my husband!!

Let's not forget the support that friends and other family members (I'm talking about you, grandparents) provide. Running a business while also being a mom is no easy feat, and there's nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, you'll be a better business owner and mom if you do. 

Yet, what I have really learned from running Luca Elle on my own is that nothing is done 100 percent perfectly - and I have to learn to be OK with that. 

I'm human. I have baby brain, pregnancy brain, and I will forget things. But I can't beat myself up over the small stuff! Being a mompreneur is all about learning how to handle situations the best way you know how to.

With love - Naomi Summach x