You’ve got a business to run, kids to keep track of, dinners to make, dishes to wash, laundry to fold, meetings to host, products to send, and the list goes on. How do you run a business and be a great mom? This is the #1 question I get asked by my audience. Since I’ve been running a business for 16 years–the entire time I’ve been a mom–I’ve learned some key things about what to do and what not to do. Here are my 7 life-changing time management tips for biz moms! 

 

 

As business moms, we know our days are unpredictable. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare and make plans. I am not a natural planner, so I’ve had to adjust and consistently work on this habit to plan my daily schedule. And if I can do it, so can you. 

 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #1: Plan Your Week on Sundays

Take one day a week to plan out your schedule and get coordinated with your family’s schedules. Your planning day does not have to be on Sunday, but this is what works best for me and my family. It’s the day that neither my husband nor I am working and our kids don’t have activities, so Sundays are a little bit of a break from the rest of the week’s hustle. 

My husband and I both plan out our weeks and talk about what events or commitments we have and we also look at what activities our kids have throughout the week, so we can all get organized before the day of. This really helps all of us get on the same page, and helps us get unified. We usually use Sunday dinner as our time to plan out our weeks. 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #2: Get the Team on Board

When you’re a mom and you have these big dreams about your business, you may have the habit of thinking you have to accomplish these goals without anyone knowing. You think you have to run a business in secret and you can’t let anyone find out or else you’ll get judged as being a bad mom. 

But, listen, that is fear filling your mind and it does not deserve space in your brain. So, thank it for reminding you to protect yourself, but let it know you are OK and this is your choice. And a great way to strengthen that mindset shift is to get your team (family) on board. 

One of my favorite things to do is share my goals with my kids and I tell them if I reach one of my goals then we’ll go out and get ice cream to celebrate. This is a simple way for all of us to bond and let my family know that my business is a real thing and I’m succeeding at something that means so much to me while also being a good mom to them. 

Your kids naturally want to help you, so give them a chance to support you by letting them know about the things you have going on in your business. (Not toddlers though, they don’t care one bit!) And when it comes to your spouse, you’ll get the best support when you are clear and direct on what your needs are. So, be clear in knowing what you need and communicating that to him. 

 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #3: Put Everything in your Calendar

Remember, how I told you I am not a natural planner? With consistent and intentional effort in writing things down and planning them out, I’ve learned that I am a better mom and a better business owner. My calendar is one of my biz mom super powers!

If you’re at your child’s orthodontist appointment and you’re scheduling another one in a few months, go ahead and add it to your calendar as you’re booking your appointment. That way you don’t have to think about it ever again until it’s time for the appointment! This is just one example, but you can literally do this with everything. 

One of the best parts of using a calendar is you don’t run the risk of forgetting things or overbooking yourself. And how about freeing up space in your brain? That’s a big one too! (If you write it down you don’t have to keep reminding yourself about it until it happens.) We, business moms, need all the brain space we can get. 

I recommend color coding according to different needs as well. You could color-code your kids’ schedules,  your spouses, your meetings, content planning, etc. You’ll know what you need! But make sure to schedule your work time even if it only involves you because this will save you from wasting time wondering what to work on. 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #4: Create Work Hours and Routines

I know unexpected things come up all the time, especially with kids. However, you can set up regular work hours and routines no matter what stage of life you are in. If you have younger kids, schedule to work during their nap time. If you have kids in school, plan to work until it’s time for them to come home. You can get into this regular work routine that will really help you get a good momentum going for your business. Just always be willing to adjust as needed! 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #5: Work When Your Kids Aren’t Home

This is a big one for business moms! Do not do things that you could do with your kids around when they aren’t home ( or napping, watching tv, etc.). If your kids are gone, do not spend time cleaning, doing laundry, or doing any other chore you could do with them at home. Use this sacred time to really focus and work on your business in silence. 

 

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #6: Automate As Much As You Can

There are so many things to automate! I am always looking for more things I can automate. This is a huge time saver and has really changed the productivity of my everyday life and the time I spend on my business. 

I automate my email marketing, my meetings with clients and my team, and so much more. I am a huge fan of automation, so if you are too reach out so we can fangirl about it together! You can check out my post HERE where I share my favorite tools that help me automate my work.  

 

Biz Mom Time Management Tip #7: Outsource

Outsourcing can make such a huge difference. If you’re running a business, never overlook the opportunity to outsource SOMETHING in your life. You can outsource your groceries, so they can be delivered to you rather than you taking an hour in the grocery store doing it yourself. You can outsource your branding, accounting, legal work, and more. 

One huge benefit of outsourcing is that you can have an expert complete the task and maybe even do a better job than you would do. And that is a smart move as a business owner! It is not your job to be an expert in all things, but it is your job to be smart about who you work with and how well your work gets done. 

My marketing agency is a great resource for many creators and business owners. You can hire us to do your branding, email marketing, social media, blogging, and more. You can check out the services we offer in full HERE! 

 

 

7 Life-Changing Time Management Tips for Biz Moms

I am a really big advocate of time management because as business moms we have no time to waste. We have too much to do, too many people depending on us, and we’ve got to squeeze some me-time in there as well. In order to rock at our time management skills we need to be disciplined in working on it and intentional with every single day. And I know we can do this!

I hope these 7 life-changing time management tips for biz moms were helpful to you! Make sure to follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford so you can keep getting the best tips and tricks on growing and running a successful biz online!