As a new mama, I am exhausted.
I can’t tell you when I last had a good (and full) night’s sleep. I now have two full time jobs: as a mama and as a business owner.
They’re the kind of jobs that you can have at the same time, but you’re left endlessly tired.
For years I’ve noticed a big issue facing business owners – burnout.
I ‘ve been one of them too.
More than once.
We are all so passionate and ambitious that it’s inevitable we may reach a point where we’re overwhelmed by all the things we have to do and all the things we want to do.
Self care often falls to the bottom of our to do lists. It becomes so easy for us to focus on all of those other important things and completely neglect the one person who holds it all together. Ourselves.Continue Reading
Do you have a business plan?
And today I’m not talking about the 20+ page document that we throw together because someone says we need one.
I’m talking about planning for your business – creating a business plan that keep you focused, motivated, and balanced amongst your multiple priorities.
In order to achieve the things that we say we want, a dream is not enough!
You need to also understand all the tasks that make up your goals, dependencies on other people or resources, and how you’ll manage it all with your limited time.
That’s when a business plan becomes necessary.Continue Reading
I’ve met plenty of business owners who boast about the number of hours they put into their business, almost as though it’s a badge of honour they proudly wear on their sleeve.
They talk about being part of #TeamNoSleep, as though it’s a competition on who can get by on the least amount possible.
They tell me that if you love what you do, it’s not really work.
They tell me that they’ll work an 80-hour week for themselves to avoid working a 40-hour week for someone else.
I understand the excitement of starting a business. I understand that there are so many things to do and how difficult it can be to fit it all in. I understand how when you’re just about to go to bed, thoughts come pouring into your head and keep you from falling asleep. It happens to me, too.
As business owners juggling a number of things at the same time, we often wonder if we are making the best use of our days. Effective management of time not only helps with productivity, it also reduces the stress that comes from doing a lot but not achieving much.
However, time management isn’t a skill that comes easily to many of us.
When I made the decision to start my own business, I had to work on ways to efficiently manage my time. Along the way, I have discovered a few tools to help me get more organized and as a result, more productive.
These range from tools that help me schedule tasks, to those that help the team keep up with each other.
Here are my top 5 productivity tools.Continue Reading
