i must admit…this has been a struggle of mine lately.

it seems that my photography business has really taken off this year! last year really pushed me into a different mind frame for how i wanted to run my business. i’ve had to learn to say no…i’ve had to learn to say yes, but most of all i’ve had to learn balance.

i thought that in order to be a successful business owner from home, i had to give 110%. well, it’s true! you do! but to be a stay at home mom and business owner…and be successful at both, you have to give 110% effort in BOTH areas. there has to be a balance between your personal and your business life. you have to be able to separate them. last year i learned how to do this between me and my clients. this year, especially the past two months has been all about me finding a balance between my business and my home life. i’ve had to learn how to set aside special time to work on galleries, emails, bookings, meetings, etc. it’s been a struggle and i’m not great at it yet, but it is getting better. i never thought i would have to force myself to take time off or vacation, or schedule free time. but you have to do what you have to do!

i realized last month that my family and i were eating out a lot, out of convenience. i know how to cook, i love to cook. but i was physically and mentally wearing myself out all day everyday and i was not able to give my family the attention that they needed when i came home. i also neglected laundry – this is partly because my husband bought me a fantastic washer and dryer with a steam cycle…so wrinkly clothes get a 20 minute zap in the steam cycle and all is well, right? WRONG! i got lazy. i put my business first and my family last. i felt so guilty doing things for myself because i had my day planned, 80% business, 10% family and then 10% me. i was literally running out of time to do everything! how did i fix this?

1} SHUT IT DOWN!

THEN: my main problem was getting lost on the computer in my work…i would sit down at 9 am and realize at 1:30 om that i had gotten maybe 2/10 tasks done. i had terrible time management! i would set my computer on ‘sleep’ and come back to work on stuff.

NOW: i shut down my computer after i’ve completed my tasks. i only turn it back on during free time/nap time!

2} SCHEDULE/PRIORITIZING

THEN: i was not scheduling my time wisely. i would sit down to work without a plan. i would get distracted. nothing got done.

NOW: i choose a certain time frame that i will complete my tasks in. laundry has to be started/done before i begin and i WILL NOT refuse to take breaks. breaks are important and help keep me focused!

3} FAMILY

THEN: family was there, they weren’t going anywhere. we had time. i knew that…and i took it for granted.

NOW: family time is priority. watching a movie with my son, he needs me snuggling, not on the iPad answering emails. i have to be completely there with him. he need’s mommy’s full attention. if something is really important and needs my 100% attention, it has to wait until nap time!

4} DISTRACTIONS

THEN: i would turn on the tv and work while watching tv. i got NOTHING done in a timely manner. what should’ve taken 30 minutes to complete, took 2 hours.

NOW: i work better with music. i play it softly in the background while working and i try to choose something to fit my mood and to keep me motivated. i also don’t have my phone on loud…messages are synced to my computer so if it is important, i’ll answer. if not, i call back.

5} VACATION

THEN: i thought we could just spend leftover time together! uh – NO! there was no leftover time.

NOW: a vacation can be me going in the backyard with my son and jumping on the trampoline or walking down our insanely long driveway to check the mail and maybe go feed the chickens while we are out.

6} LEARN TO SAY NO

THEN: i would say yes out of guilt. if ANYONE asked me to do something, i would ‘squeeze’ it in.

NOW: i’m having to prioritize where my time and our family’s time goes. we can’t spread ourselves too thin. that is NEVER a good idea!

 

after putting this all in writing i know see how ridiculously selfish i was. i wanted my business to succeed but i had no time frame or time restrictions. i was naive to think i could just, go with flow. a family needs attention, a business needs attention. but you cannot neglect one to take care of the other.