This week’s “Ask the Mompreneur” features an interview with Raleigh moms coach Gaye Esser, founder of RedefineBalance.com.
Ask the Mompreneur:
Many of us have New Year’s resolutions about work life balance. For those parents who work from home, either full-time or part-time, achieving this balance is even trickier. What advice do you have?
Gaye Esser:
Working and raising children can be demanding on its own, but when you also work from home, you add additional challenges to the mix. Trying to balance your schedule and your family’s schedule while completing work duties can be extremely difficult. Here are some tips to help you balance your work, your kids and yourself.
Know your balance
Be clear on exactly what your needs are and know what balance looks like for you. Do you need more time for work, more time for kids’ activities, more family time, or more time for self-care? What do you need to fit into your daily or weekly schedule? Be mindful of how your balance feels now and make changes according to what would work best for you and your family.
Schedule your time
Create a schedule for yourself each day or each week and do your best to stick to it. Each evening, make a list of the things you must get done the next day and schedule a time to complete those tasks. Break your items up into order of importance and make your schedule accordingly. By prioritizing your items, you can make sure you complete your most imperative items before moving on to less significant tasks. Remember, taking care of you is important too. You will stay more focused and on task if you include time for yourself on your schedule as well.
Don’t get sidetracked
Prioritize and stick to your schedule. Don’t let the bills, housework or other household issues get in the way of your work. When working from home, this is so easy to do. When you walk into one room and notice something you need to do, your perfect intentions can go out the window. Another big distraction can be email. If possible, get your work done before logging in to check your email. Emails have a way of taking over your whole day so if you have items that need to be completed, do those before opening your inbox.
Say “no”
Be willing to say “no” if things don’t fit into your schedule or adhere to the balance you want in your life. If you are booked and someone asks you to do something, allow yourself to decline if you won’t be able to finish something that is more important. You can’t do everything and no one expects you to. Stay true to what is most important in your life.
Get out of the house
If you have a major project or deadline and you are not getting your work done at home, get out of your house. Go to a coffee shop, a friend’s house, or if it is a huge project, check into a hotel for a day or two. By removing yourself from your usual environment, you will be able to stay more focused and this will alleviate normal household distractions.
Enjoy the journey!
To get your business featured in this column, please email your entrepreneurship, parenting, or work life balance questions to Charlotte executive coach Dr. Jennie Wong at Jennie.Wong@LimelightExecutiveCoaching.com.
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