Do you struggle to understand the truth about life balance? Especially if you are a mom who owns a business. I personally did.

I was told to stay home with my kids because that was life balance. Kids deserve a mom who will always be there with them. The minute they get out bed and to the very second they close their eyes. I can’t disagree with that more.

Life balance is not what the world defines it. Your mom friend who stays home with her babies, that’s her life balance. You have a different balance to carry as a mom in business. Managing working mom life balance is not the same.

After seven years of being a mom in business with babies, toddlers and now teenagers in the mix, I have found what life balance looks like for us working moms, especially those who own a business.

Life Balance for Moms in Business

In this blog, I want to share five ways I balanced life as a mom in business. These have been very helpful, especially managing a full time business and five kiddos.

Hacks to Balance Mom Life and Business

Here are the five have hacks to life balance:

Take Time Off

I can’t stress enough how important it is to stop and take a break. It’s ok to say you are closed or not taking orders for one week to be with your kids or take a vacation all by yourself. Whatever you need to do to recharge, do it!

When we take time off, we create balance in our life as a mom and in business. Our creativity has time to expand and our passion for what we do doesn’t burn out.

Whatever “time off” means to you, take that time to be away with your family or just by yourself.

Set Boundaries with Others and Commitments

Often, you will hear opinions from others how to do business as a mom. Most are with great intentions too. Not all opinions need to be accepted. Set a clear boundary what you will allow to influence your mind and family as you navigate mom life and business.

You have a lot of responsibilities as mom in business. The playdates you used to attend, may not fit into your schedule anymore and that’s ok. You know your schedule as a business owner and mom and saying ‘no’ is not a bad thing. Keep to your schedule and stay focused.

Get Help

There is no shame to ask for help. We are not superheroes as moms and we can’t do it all. I used to think I had to everything myself to prove to people that I am good enough. Nope! Don’t do it. You don’t need to be it all to just get that compliment that will wear off in a few minutes. Then, you are back at it trying to grind on our own in the wee hours and wishing you didn’t have to do this alone.

Ask for help from your husband.

Take the offer on babysitting.

Your kids can help you as well. It does not matter what age, they are capable of carrying things, folding clothes, or whatever is appropriate for their age to do to be helpful.

Don’t do this alone or feel ashamed to ask for help. We are created for one another.

Get Rid of Comparison

Comparison is the stealer of joy. This one really affected me when I was a young mompreneur. I had just gotten into business and my kids were very young. I was used to going to playdates, hosting brunches and having a cleaner house.

When I started my business, things changed. All the stay at home mom activities became rare and my house wasn’t as clean anymore. My time was spent more with my kids and in business.

I started comparing my piles of laundry to my friends neatly folded and color coordinated closets. I wanted to be like that too. The thoughts of quitting my business or just doing more came to my mind. I wanted to be just like them and I would have to pay the price.

I began getting feelings of resentment and feeling unhappy with my life. It was all because of comparison.

Comparison steels the joy out of whatever you are doing. So, stay in your lane mama! Find the joy and rhythm in what you are doing, even if it looks different.

Spend Quality Time with Kids

There is a difference between quality and quantity.

You can spend all day at home with your kids and accomplishing nothing.

You can spend all day at work and come home to spear just a few hours to be with your kids, but they would the most impactful hours of their life. Why?

It’s what you do in the hours you are with your kids that matters rather than the hours you spend with them. If you are on your phone 75% of the time when you are with your kids, that is not spending time. Be aware of what you do while with your kids.

Conclusion

Balancing motherhood and business is not easy all the time. Especially if we want to do it alone. Take a few minutes to reflect on the life hacks of true balance in your home as you run a business.