MOMPRENEUR
How can we have it all? Is it possible to have a well paid career with high fashion clothes, a loving husband and well behaved kids? Is it possible to breathe, relax and implement
self-care? I mean, it’s all on my vision board so it must be possible, right?
These are all questions that I ask myself as I strive to be a thriving Mompreneur (Mom and entrepreneur). Well the answer is a resounding YES! All of this is possible! Home cooked meals and closing new deals are all possible; however, it takes a lot of planning and sacrifice.
Balance Vs Prioritizing.
When we balance things it’s suggested that they all have the same weight. Your meeting with a potential client may not hold the same weight as your son’s basketball game. But one may be more important to attend in that moment. This is where prioritizing comes into play. Whatever is of importance to us in that moment must have our full attention. This may mean making up for missed events or longer days; but in the end, tasks are complete and the family feels your presence. If you are task driven you may have longer nights than preferred, or you may have to accept that some things won’t get done according to your timeline.
Planning, Prepping and Delegating.
Many of us were taught to be everything to everyone. This generational curse has plagued women for long enough and I am taking off my cape! Yes, there are times in our life when the cape is necessary but we can not live this way. Plan and schedule your day as much as possible to stay on top of tasks and deadlines. Yes, plan in family time and time for your significant other. By doing so, you will be able to get a birds-eye view of your day. Remember this does not have to be a challenge to complete but more so guide or reference of what you are capable of achieving. Planning your day can also help eliminate mindless scrolling on social media and other wastes of time.
Meal prepping is life! Girl, get you a few meats that can be turned into multiple meals or spend a Saturday prepping and preparing meals. This honestly is not as hard as it seems or as extravagant as some try to make it. Take ground meat for example; you can make spaghetti, meatloaf, tacos and burgers! Pair the entrees with your choice of vegetable viola! Your family has a home cooked meal, you have an extra hour or 2 each day to spend with them, and everyone is happy.
Delegating
“Daddy can do” is a phrase I learned from a breastfeeding support group on Facebook. Part of removing our cape and not being superwoman means we have to ask for and accept help. Whether it’s washing bottles, cooking, cleaning, laundry, taking the kids out of the house, giving you a massage or encouragement at the end of the day… Daddy can do... A LOT to help! When my husband keeps the dishes clean and laundry managed, I’m able to prioritize my responsibilities much more efficiently. Realizing what Daddy can and will do saved my sanity on many occasions, especially with our 2 year old boss baby who has his own Instagram account and 3,000+ followers.
If you are a single parent, link up with others to create a support system and be there for other Mompreneurs like you. Cleaning services for your home and outsourcing work to sites such as fiverr.com and upwork.com can also help create extra time and take a load off.
Last but not least, disconnect from your task list as much as possible when you are off or out of the office. Stay present and in the moment when you are with your family. If a thought crosses your mind make a note or reminder but pursue it later. The tiny humans and your spouse will appreciate you for it.
Self-Care
Self-care looks different for everyone. Who doesn’t love a massage, pedicure and a trip to the hair salon. These activities and many others are ideal but not always realistic. Self-care for the Mompreneur may mean setting boundaries and time limits on the amount of work done in a day, limiting stressful calls to early work hours or taking an extra 15 minutes in the car to do a breathing exercise or guided meditation. Some Mompreneurs are further along in their businesses and can afford more luxury activities but for those of us in the building stages of our business, we just need to be aware of our bodies and mental state at the end of each day. By listening to our bodies we can implement the care necessary. Two is better than one. Link up with some like minded people to hold you accountable in your self-care.
We will not get it all right all of the time but let’s be intentional in our attempts to get it done. You can do whatever you put your mind to, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
Kiara Moore, M.A., L.P.C.M.H. is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with several years of experience working with various diagnoses. Kiara Moors owns and operate Kiara Moore Therapeutic Services where she provides therapy to children, adults and couples. Kiara Moore is also a wife, mother, singer, minister and motivational speaker. Follow Kiara Moore on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Kiara Moore Therapeutic Services. Contact Kiara Moore via email at kmtherapeuticservices@gmail.com