Work-Life Balance: The Challenges of Being a Mompreneur

 

Life as a mompreneur is a unique and exhilarating journey, filled with endless opportunities and challenges. When you add five energetic boys into the mix, the equation becomes even more complex. It’s not for the faint of heart, but honestly, no matter what your life entails, adding “Mom” to your list of roles is anything but easy, even on the best days.

I want to take you on a deep dive into my life as a mompreneur who is navigating the choppy waters of work-life balance while raising a family of five boys. Some days are hard, some days are easy, but each day is fulfilling and worth everything I put into it. If you’re juggling multiple roles, rest assured we know exactly how hard it is, and I hope even one sentence of this can give you one more tool to add to your every growing toolbox of skills necessary to survive the chaos of it all!

 

Create the Balancing Act

As a mother of five boys, my life is an ever-spinning carousel of laughter, chaos, and adventure. From the moment I open my eyes to the time I collapse into bed I’m constantly juggling the responsibilities of motherhood and entrepreneurship. And working from home means that there are no lines between the roles, no leaving the office to go home, no staying at home with no work laptop, etc. Everything is one in the same, and my mind and my conviction to this lifestyle are the only things I can count on to create any boundaries between these very blurred lines.

 

The art of balance is not just a choice but a necessity and here are three ways that help me find just a bit of my center:

Identify your Priorities.

My boys are my North Star. They come first, and everything else falls in line behind them. When you’re a mompreneur, every decision you make needs to align with your family’s needs and well-being. If you’ve read the part 2 in the series about productivity, you have already gotten a glimpse at my prioritization method within my to do list. I know what MUST be done today, what would be NICE to get done today, and what really doesn’t matter at all.

So, when you look at this from a balance perspective, one noteworthy detail I should mention is that both my personal and my professional tasks are on the same to do list. I need to understand if personal task 2 is more or less important than professional task 4, because if it is, I will make sure I tackle that first as I start my day when my mind is fresh.

Set Boundaries.

One of the biggest challenges of being a mompreneur is setting boundaries. In the world of entrepreneurship, there’s always something that needs your attention, and if you’re a self-driven person, that thing can be so loud that you completely lose your hearing to anything else. But when you have five boys waiting for your presence, it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries for work and family time because the value you add in their lives is so much greater than any professional pursuit, even if you don’t hear their needs as loudly as that client who is complaining for your time.

I try to make sure I block off specific time for just work, and specific time for just the family to make sure that I have clear boundaries, or do not call times, on both sides. This lets me give all of my attention to my clients at one time and all to my family at another time. This is a huge stress reliever for me and also sets expectations for those clients and my boys so they know they will have my full attention when they need it, and also making them ok without me when it’s not their “turn”.

Crush Time Management.

Managing time effectively is a superpower every mompreneur needs and I have to say that 20 years in project management has allowed me to master the clock; it’s my secret weapon! With five boys, it’s easy for time to slip away, so I’ve honed my time management skills to make every minute count. Whether its block scheduling, setting timers, or blocking my schedule.

It’s about making the most of every minute, finding those hidden pockets of opportunity, and knowing when to recharge. It’s not about having more time, but making the most of the time you’ve got. And let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. So, to all the fellow mompreneurs out there, embrace the flexibility, own your schedule, and watch how you can crush it in ways you never thought possible.

 

Giving Yourself (and others) Grace

Life with five boys is an adventure, and there’s no such thing as a perfect routine. Instead of trying to maintain an immaculate home with a strict schedule, and also a full client list and demanding professional goals, I try my best to just embrace the chaos. The boys won’t remember a clean kitchen, but they will remember the laughs you have with them. And clients won’t remember you had perfectly branded materials during every weekly meeting, but they will remember that you brought high value solutions to make their business successful.

Forgive yourself from the thought of achieving perfection and give yourself grace by focusing on the things that matter, and stop stressing on the things that don’t. And when the kids act up, and even more when your clients act up, give them a little grace too and just roll with it. Everyone will be a lot happier and together you’ll get the job done.

 

Don’t do it Alone

With five active boys and a business that’s always hungry for attention, one thing continues to ring true for me: we’re not meant to do it alone. Whether it’s a call to my mom while I’m in the car rider pick up line at school, a group text chat going with my friends, a quick walk with Luis or an impromptu coffee date with fellow hustlers, my network is the only reason I have come as far as I have without going completely insane (I type this with my one and a half year old sitting in my lap, playing Baby Shark on my phone for the 100^th time).  We’re all sitting here, writing our own playbook, showing that building a life and a business can be a team sport.

 

 Putting it all Together

Balancing the roles of a mother of five boys and an entrepreneur is a dynamic and ever-evolving journey. It requires patience, flexibility, and a whole lot of love. While there are challenges along the way, the rewards are immeasurable.

So, to all the mompreneurs out there, whether you have one child or five, remember that you are not alone. Embrace the chaos, create the balance that works for you and seek support. With determination and a loving heart, you can navigate the challenges of being a mompreneur and build a life that celebrates both your family and your entrepreneurial dreams.