Next year will mark 10 years since I embarked on the journey with this small business and in the past 3 years post-COVID-19, my little business has grown from a small business, of less than 10 clients to a thriving and hectic one of over 50 clients. Crazy that I thought that after COVID my business would suffer when the opposite happened. COVID made me restructure activities that would ensure better safety for my clients, my family and myself, and this change, though it required more investment, has seen my small business grow from year to year.
However, as with everything in life, as the business grew, I had more responsibility and the more stressed I became. I have a full-time job from 8-4 which I love. It’s in a completely different field to Speech Pathology and it’s a job that allows me to travel the world and meet new people and experience different cultures, something full-time Speech Pathologist does not offer.
I am also a full-time mum to three gorgeous daughters, with 2 of them under the age of 6 and a teenage adult, and a partner. As a working mum with a small but growing business, finding a work-life balance can be a challenge. It was very important that I had to find my own rhythm otherwise I would not have coped with my situation at all. Below are some tips that I have used along this interesting but hectic journey:
1. Planning, planning and planning: Planning is my saviour. I always make a list of my tasks and try to tick them off as I go along depending on their priority. I do not follow the list all the time and sometimes I forget completely about the list but sometimes having made the lists just declutters my mind. Using a system of urgent/important quadrants helps to manage the ever-growing list. I also make use of tools like calendars and scheduling apps to manage my time effectively. Set aside specific times for work, family, and personal activities.
2. Having boundaries: It was important for me to separate my 3 different lives so that means I now have 3 phone numbers, but this separation ensures that I could set boundaries on calls to take at which time. Though I sometimes answer texts and emails at odd hours, It is important to set boundaries between work and personal time. Let your clients know your availability and stick to it. Don’t be afraid to refuse work requests that interfere with your personal life. I now firmly keep my 8-4 between 8-4 and have strict time for Speech Plus and down time with the family and my personal me time (which is reading).
3. Delegate: With the growth of my business, I often use my family members as helpers in the business. Delegation happened when I decided to move to an online system which required populating it with previous paper documents, which my partner happily helped with that, which saved me a lot of time. Now that the system is working seamlessly, I no longer need his help as before, but I utilize my oldest daughter’s interest in social media to create content for my social media platforms. My sister often helps as well sometimes with just shopping and organising something that needs to be done and I just do not have the time to do it. Admitting that you need help is sometimes the biggest favour you can do for yourself.
4. Self-Care: I work 6 out of 7 days, and therefore I have only one day a week to relax. So, apart from cleaning on Sundays I always ensure I make time for reading and relaxation. Sunday is also always termed self-care Sunday in my diary. I take time to exfoliate, scrub and oil. Taking care of my hair, skin and nails allows me to re-energize and relax my body which allows me to give myself 100% in everything that I do. This allows me to stay energized and focused. I find that feeling good about myself is important as I am less stressed
Note to self: I do not always function this way, sometimes life happens, my Sunday plans to get side track, I go out with friends Saturday night and I am exhausted all Sunday, and which means I do not get to recharge for the week, but that’s ok, finding a work-life balance is an ongoing process and I am still learning, but I think I am on the right track.
Do not hesitate if you want to reach out and discuss more on this