Tips for Working Moms Who Run Small Businesses

Life for any working mother is hectic enough - if you are running a small business and a household at the same time, it may be difficult to remember the last time you had an idle moment.

It may take some juggling, but there are ways to restore some order to a lifestyle in which family and work responsibilities seem to vie for equal attention.

Delegate

You can't be expected to do it all - this advice applies both at work at home. Delegating some of your regular tasks can be a great way to relieve the stress of juggling responsibilities.

The key to delegating is to identify jobs that it is not essential for you to be in charge of, then matching them with someone who could complete them just as well - or better. At work, you could consider hiring some part-time administrative help. Or, consider taking on a bookkeeper to manage your day-to-day tasks using financial software.

You may be tempted to insist that certain things are faster when you do it yourself. But remember that some tasks that may seem small - such as sending email responses to clients - can wind up taking up a larger-than-expected portion of your precious time.

There are opportunities for delegating at home as well. You could think about assigning manageable chores to members of the family to lighten your load. Explain to your children that you require them to contribute at home and make these responsibilities a part of their regular routine.

Plan ahead

At the end of a long day, the last thing that may appeal is getting ready for the next morning. But planning ahead can pay off when you find yourself rushed in the AM hours.

One suggestion is to use a portion of each weekday evening to get your family ready for the next day, such as preparing kids' lunches or setting out clothing.

On Sundays, you could even consider preparing several days' worth of lunches ahead of time or cooking larger quantities for dinner, then freezing the leftovers for easy mid-week suppers.

At work, consider using the last 30 minutes or hour of each day to complete the duties you are tempted to put off - whether this involves paying invoices using your financial software or updating your company's website, you will be glad to be able to slip into your working morning without it hanging over your head.

Schedule your day

How could any working mother face her day without a schedule? Even if you already keep your work commitments meticulously logged on a calendar, think about additional ways you could use scheduling to organize your life.

This can include personal goals. Who has time to go to the gym? Well, if you have it scheduled in for 5pm on Wednesdays, you have already made the time. Add personal commitments to your calendar - such as meeting a friend for coffee or going for a long bike ride - to ensure they receive the same priority as tasks involving your financial software.

Seek out time-saving strategies

Feeling rushed? There are a number of ways to save time without adding to your stress. For example, consider shopping online rather than travelling to the stores. These days, many supermarkets also offer home delivery, a luxury that can shave hours off of your weekly commitments.

Some small business owners find it is quicker to interact with clients via email, because all questions and concerns can be addressed in one fell swoop, while others may find it faster to just pick up the phone rather than typing a lengthy explanation. Similarly, some women are adept at multi-tasking and others find they do their best work while focusing. The key is to find strategies that work for you. Never stop trying to make your working habits more efficient.

If you have not already done so, consider purchasing financial software to save time when creating invoices, paying bills and tracking expenses. Financial software allows you to automate a number of tasks that may otherwise require a significant time investment.

Find someone to listen

This could be a spouse, a friend or a child - anyone who is interested in chatting to you about the events of your day. Consider it a de-stressing reward at the end of the workday, a chance to decompress and change gears so you can enjoy your evening.