Running your own business is an all-consuming role. Not only are you task-switching endlessly on the day-to-day stuff that simply has to get done – but it also occupies your brain space 24/7. Much like, say, parenting. So, what happens when the two collide in those early preschool years?

Well, as someone who has spent the last three years as a solo business owner, running a website copywriting studio in only two days of childcare a week, while the rest of the time is spent running after a preschooler with what can only be described as “chaotic energy” – it’s not as effortless as a “juggle”. Or a “balancing act” (seriously, who coined those phrases?).

What I’ve learnt, is that while it’s tough to squeeze in as much as you can into limited working hours each week, it’s not impossible. You can run a profitable business that runs full-time, during very limited working hours. Here’s how…

Make a realistic weekly plan

Aspirational to-do lists are not worth the paper they’re scribbled on. Instead, figure out how many uninterrupted working hours you have in a typical week. Then put a unit of time against tasks you want to achieve in the week ahead. Next – and this part is critical – make sure it adds up.

If you tie yourself unknowingly to an unrealistic to-do list, it will have a negative impact on your productivity. There’s nothing like an unchecked list, igniting the fear of failure.

By making a weekly plan that’s doable, not daunting, you can start chipping away at your tasks bit-by-bit, consistently making small steps towards big-picture goals.

Mine your thoughts, regularly

We often get in our own way. We have too many ideas, too many things pulling us in a million different directions. So, if you’re feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed, get all those cluttered, messy, overlapping thoughts down on paper. It could be a list, a spider diagram, a doodle. Whatever works for you, you just need to be able to look at all of it.

Once you’re faced with your thoughts, start reorganising them. Group bits together. Break them down further into actions. Ask yourself, is this a priority for right now, or somewhere further down the line?

Similar to curating a vision board, this brain dump exercise will help you gain clarity and connect the dots. And also helps you erase any tasks that are not big “needle movers”. Do you really need to show up on stories every, single day, when your biggest revenue-driver is your email list? Without zooming out every now and then, you’ll never be able to spot the big time-sucks that are eating into your precious working hours.

Maintain focus

With less time on your hands, you need concentrated focus in the hours you can work. That means eliminating distractions or opportunities to procrastinate. Whether you put your phone in another room to stop yourself from mindless scrolling or try time-management techniques like ‘Pomodoro’, you’ll be setting yourself up for bursts of focused work.  

But don’t mistake productivity and focus for simply being busy. Allow yourself gaps in your day to observe, to evaluate and to ponder. Because it’s in those bits in-between (like a lunchtime walk or a conversation with a stranger) that inspiration and business clarity can strike!

Streamline your processes

The saying ‘work smart, not hard’ is super cliché but true. If you can get the right systems in place, you can do the same amount of work more efficiently. Whether that’s automating the onboarding/offboarding process for your clients or finding a way to get faster at what you do, there’s a multitude of tricks and tools, waiting to help you tweak and improve.

Not sure where to start? Start time tracking your day-to-day duties and it will be easier to spot what tasks are eating up your hours, before finding a solution to improve your process.

Work to your strengths & outsource your weaknesses

Running your own business means being the intern, the accountant, and the CEO, usually all at once.  You’ll find that some tasks you’re great at and others you suck at. That’s totally OK, you do not need to master every, single skill to be a successful business owner.

Be honest with yourself and figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are. Instead of spending hours upskilling the weak spots trying to do it yourself, you’ll save time and money in the long run by outsourcing (or hiring if you want to expand your team) by offloading tasks you find difficult, tedious or outside your area of expertise.

By remaining focused on the parts of your business that bring you joy (the very reason why you started it in the first place) you can get more out of the pockets of time that you’ve set aside to work, whether it’s 10 hours a week or 30.

Final thoughts

If you’re still with me, whether you’re running a business now in pockets of child-free time, or you’re thinking about launching one, here’s something I wish someone had said to me.

Things will go wrong along the way. Timelines that were once perfectly aligned, will overlap and blur and you’ll think to yourself “how did I get here?”. Your kid/s will pick up every bug, lice, and pox going. Clients and customers will sing your praises and stress you out in the same breath.  

Running your own business is going against the 9-5 grain. It’s tough and it takes resilience. And that’s before you throw in the bonus of unforeseen childcare challenges. So, if you take one thing from this article, let it be this. When business feels like it’s boiling over, and you’re being pulled in too many directions, take a moment for yourself. Go for a walk, write a gratitude list, hug your child – whatever fills your cup. And remember, you’re in control of your business, not the other way around. Make it work for you.

Elena Chow is a website copywriter & story strategist who runs copy studio Words by Elena. She helps ambitious freelancers and founders sell their story, not their soul, by writing and workshopping words that hook the right kinda people.

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Head to the parenting section to read more articles about work-life balance.

The return to school is just around the corner, which usually means a lot of ‘back to school’ preparations. From buying new uniform to ensuring your kids have all the supplies they need, getting your kids ready to go back to school can be an expensive time. With the cost of living increasing, many families are going to be making changes to their budget just to be able to afford the basics this year. 

School trips are another expense that can put strain on a family’s finances. While trips have a lot of benefits for your children, it can be difficult to say yes when there are other things to pay for. Budgeting for trips can make things more manageable, helping you save the money now for when it’s needed. 

Take a look at the following ideas to help you budget for school trips so you can say yes and help your child make the most of these opportunities.

Speak to the school about potential trips

To help you budget for school trips, you need to know what you’re up against first. It’s a good idea to speak to the school at the start of term about any potential trips coming up throughout the year. They might not have made a firm plan yet, but they should have an idea based on previous years. Some school trips happen every year, while others, like a longer trip, may take place every two years. 

Knowing in advance can help you plan and give you an idea of when you’re going to need to make some payments.

Work out a rough cost

Next you’ll want to work out a rough cost for trips. Some trips are more affordable than others, such as day trips or trips to locations that are close by. You can work out a rough cost based on previous trips, or by looking at school trip provider websites. Educational trips to France are a popular type of trip, and you can find plenty of information about them online. Remember that school trips typically cost less than they would if you booked things yourself, with many trips often subsidised by the school to make them more affordable for parents.

Try some cost-cutting ideas to save money

With an idea of how much the trips are going to cost, you can make a plan to save money. Putting money aside each month can help break things up, but if things are tight, you may need to make some cuts to help you make the savings. 

Some of the things you could do to save include:

• Cut down on how much you use your car to help save on fuel costs.
• Switch to packed lunches.
• Cut down on some of your subscriptions like on-demand TV or a gym membership.
• Challenge yourself to make some cheaper family meals, and get the kids involved in cooking too.
• Use cashback sites online to help you save while you shop.

Explore any support that’s available

If you’re concerned about the cost of school trips and how you’re going to afford them, you can also take a look at what support is available to families. Some local authorities can provide assistance, while the schools themselves may be able to support you if you’re on a low income. You may also be able to find support with other costs that will free up your budget to cover school trip costs.

Planning for school trips can put pressure on parents, but finding ways to budget in advance can help with some of the costs. If, however, trips aren’t possible at this time, have an honest conversation with your child to help them understand. Many families will be feeling the pinch this year, and it’s important to remember that trips are not a necessity. Even if things aren’t possible this year, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some opportunities in the future that your child can take advantage of instead.

It can be tough for any child to start at a new school, but it can be especially difficult for adopted children. They may feel like they don’t fit in anywhere and that they are alone in the world. This is why it’s important to help them settle into their new school as quickly as possible. Here are four ways to make the transition easier for your adopted child.

Talk to the school in advance

If you know your child is going to be starting at a new school, it’s a good idea to get in touch with the school beforehand. This way, you can let them know about your child’s situation and find out what support they can offer. The school may be able to put your child in touch with other children who have been adopted, or they may have experience dealing with children who have been through similar experiences. Either way, it’s important to let the school know what’s going on so that they can be as supportive as possible.

Help them make friends

One of the best ways to help your child settle into a new school is to help them make friends. This can be done by talking to other parents, signing them up for after-school activities, or even just encouraging them to speak to other children in their class. If your child is struggling to make friends, you could also consider hiring a tutor who can help them with their studies and provide some social interaction. Remember, it’s important for children to feel like they belong somewhere, so don’t hesitate to reach out and help them find their place at their new school.

Encourage Them to Join Extra-Curricular Activities

Another great way to help your child settle into a new school is to encourage them to join extra-curricular activities. This could be anything from a sports team to a drama club. Joining activities is a great way for children to make friends and feel like they belong somewhere. It’s also important for children to have something that they’re passionate about. Doing things that they love will help them feel good about themselves and give them something to focus on outside of school. So, if your child is interested in joining any extra-curricular activities, be sure to find whichever before and after school programs in Crofton, MD (or elsewhere) are operating and encourage them to join!

Get Them Excited About Future Prospects

A big part of helping your child settle into a new school is getting them excited about their future prospects. This means talking to them about what they want to do when they finish school and helping them to set goals. If your child knows that there’s something to look forward to, they’ll be more likely to stick with it and persevere through tough times. So, take the time to sit down with your child and talk about their dreams and aspirations. Help them to see that anything is possible if they put their mind to it! If they don’t have an idea yet about what they want to do, focus on something closer in time, like the upcoming educational travel they will experience and what they want to learn while they are on the trip.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Remember, it’s important to be patient and understanding when helping your child settle into a new school. With a little bit of time and effort, they’ll be feeling right at home in no time!