By Jenna Sherman
If there are two events that change our lives more than anything, it’s having a baby and starting a business. When these momentous occasions happen at the same time, life gets shaken up — fast. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take life by the proverbial horns and steer it in the direction you want to go. Here are some tips on how to navigate both of these winding roads.
It’s Your Baby’s World
Whether or not you are a first-time mom, you’ve likely already learned that acclimating to life with a newborn is a beautiful challenge. As What To Expect explains, the first few weeks with a brand-new baby seem pretty simple on the surface. However, between feedings, diaper changes, and all of your new responsibilities, you likely get much less sleep and far fewer hours of “free” time than you did before.
Unless you plan to hire a nanny or babysitter, the vast majority of your time and attention will be on your baby. Fortunately, there are plenty of people that can help you out through the process, and being proactive is wise. Consider connecting with a pregnancy wellness coach so you have a quick go-to if anything pops up. For example, Mother Wit Maternity can help you with everything from fitness and nutrition to finding specialists, such as a lactation consultant, that can help you overcome unexpected hurdles. You can also outsource chores, such as housekeeping and grocery shopping, to a service or personal assistant.
Resources for Success
It’s not just people and services that can help with your baby that will make entrepreneurship less of a challenge now. You can also handle business tasks, such as how to start an LLC in Louisiana, without doing a ton of research by using a formation service. When you have a little one to care for, structuring as an LLC early on can alleviate the worry that your home and other personal assets might be seized due to a business snafu. LLC regulations are different from state to state and it’s expensive to file using an attorney, so doing some of the work on your own here will save you time and money.
Hiring freelancers to handle some aspects of your business is also a smart move. Finding someone to answer phone calls or fill customer orders can make a big difference to your personal time clock. You could even pay a business consultant to help you write a business plan, which the Small Business Administration explains is tailored to your business and can help you grow through each stage. The point is that there are resources available that can help you manage your time, both as a mother and a small business owner.
Working From Home
At some point, you’re going to have to put the work into making sure you can actually get some work done as your little one grows from an infant to a toddler. This requires planning, and that starts by designing a workspace that works for you, your family, and your business. When your baby is small, as long as you have a corner where you can put a bassinet or playpen, you’ll have a place to sit them down when work needs your attention. When they get older, a playroom down the hall might suffice.
Something else to consider is setting up your technology with apps that help keep you organized. This might be workflow software or a customer service management program. Both of these reduce paperwork and time spent on tasks that can take your time away from both your baby and your customers.
There is no way of sidestepping the fact that your time is limited when you’re focused on a baby and also on a business. But with a little foresight and help from services on each end, you can make the most of the hours you have available. It’s going to get stressful, but remember, they are only little once. It gets easier with time. Soon, you’ll have a kindergartner and seven hours each day to prioritize work.
Jenna Sherman, a mom of three (two girls and a boy) created parent-leaders.com as an avenue for parents who want to make sure their children grow up to be strong, independent, successful adults. By providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources, she hopes to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders.