How to mum well and manage entrepreneurship

It might not be easy, but you can have it all … Here’s how, writes Beatrice Toh, mum, entrepreneur and founder of HeyDoodle.

Motherhood is chaos; beautiful chaos. It feels like you have a half-dozen balls in the air at any time. Playtime, laundry, sports practices, music lessons … it’s a minor miracle the average mum manages to pull it off.

Oh yeah, and there’s work – we totally forgot about that.

When you’re a mum, switching to work mode is easier said than done, especially when you’ve only slept four hours. But as a mum in business, the challenges are even rougher. Your children need you, but your business won’t build itself.

Is it possible to run a company and be a mum? With a rock-solid plan, YES, it’s possible! Scores of women have pulled it off.

When I started HeyDoodle four years ago, my goal was to make mats that are a portable drawing canvas with a wipeable surface, so kids could explore their creativity over and over. It hasn’t been easy, but it is doable.

I believe you can be a mum and a successful entrepreneur. Here’s how I did it:

Get clear on your priorities

It’s a terrible cliché, but it’s true: when everything is a priority, nothing’s a priority.

Without priorities, every task inflates in importance – you won’t know where to start. And because of this, your internal operating system (i.e. your brain) will freeze.

Motherhood will add heaps of new tasks to your day planner. To manage it all, you need to rank each by its importance.

Ask yourself: Which tasks have the most acute consequences if they don’t get done? Move these mission-critical items to the top of your list. Do this, and you won’t miss a dance recital or a sports match again.

Delegate tasks that are necessary, but time-consuming

So now, your business and personal life won’t fall apart immediately. But dozens of other time-consuming tasks still need to be done.

Falling behind on these won’t hurt you straight away. But quickly, they’ll pile up like papers on a desk, only adding to your overwhelm.

Ask yourself: Is it realistic to assign a task to someone else? If so, then delegate it. The more work you outsource, the more time you’ll have for higher-level duties – and your family.

Set up boundaries between your business and personal life

Business and family life can be chaotic. So to be effective at both, you’ll need to erect boundaries.

Start by defining work hours. Occasionally, you’ll have no choice but to work late. But whenever possible, abide by your defined quit time. And once you’re off the clock, stick to it. Silence email notifications, and don’t check your inbox.

At the same time, it’s essential to limit family distractions during work hours. If you work from home, set up your office in a quiet place. Then, talk with your spouse/kids about your need for focus.

But take breaks to see your little ones. After all, they’re the reason you chose the mumpreneur life!

Network with other mum entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship can be lonely. But mumpreneurship is even tougher, as many local entrepreneurs might not understand your situation.

Fortunately, there are plenty of mums in business across Australia. And thanks to online meetup groups, it’s easy to reach out and find them.

So if you’re having problems balancing work with family life, chat with them – they’ve gone through the same things you’re going through. The advice they can offer will be invaluable.

Make time for yourself … regularly

If you burn out, you can’t change the world (or be there for your kids). So work self-care into your schedule.

Take regular breaks from your desk. Meditate in the morning (or whenever stress creeps in). Enjoy a spa day. Play with your darlings.

Make time for whatever recharges your batteries, and you’ll have the strength to endure life as a mumpreneur.

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