With summer around the corner, we’re thinking up ways to keep our kids entertained while they’re on holidays. But as a freelancer or entrepreneur working from home, the border between vacation time and work is almost never fixed. Finding time for children and our online businesses can be a real headache.
While there’s no magic wand to create an extra work day, or turn you into Wonder Woman overnight, there are ways to cope with the wild ride that is parenting and being an entrepreneur.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
‘Keep it simple’ is not just a mantra for Japanese Zen gardeners; it’s the refrain of successful people the world over. Start with decluttering your home – we spend countless minutes and hours tidying up after kids and ourselves because the majority of us have too much stuff. If it doesn’t fit in a drawer or the wardrobe, say sayonara to it.
Starting with a ‘clean slate’ will give you an overview of your family life and business – a great starting point for decision making.
With clear eyes, you can schedule your day according to your peak hours of productivity and your kid’s routine. Children don’t mind keeping to a strict schedule, we’re the ones who love to overcomplicate our lives! So, make time: for family first, then for work and writing. Stick to this schedule like it’s your religion.
Please, Don’t Do it Yourself!
Many online business owners recommend outsourcing jobs to make life more manageable. It’s a good idea to hire help for the business if you’ve built up enough capital – but if you’re still struggling to break even in a month, you’ll have to get creative. Luckily, there are a slew of online business tools to help you along the way, many of them available for free. Take advantage of these and spend the extra time in the sandbox sans smartphone.
What’s more, while it would be great to have a completely hand-crafted website to display your wares or services, we can’t all afford a web designer’s fees. Try building your own online shop with a drag and drop model. 1&1, like many Internet companies, now offer this service for busy entrepreneurs. Not doing it yourself, in this case, frees up time for other projects.
Finally, ask yourself: Can you afford a babysitter, even once a week for a couple of hours? If so, give yourself time to take a break from work and kids. It sounds counterproductive, but taking a real break will help you stick to your schedule better and improve quality time with those most important to you.
