Before finalizing the decision to start your own business, get a "buy-in"
from your family. It's surprising how few people discuss in detail with their
family the possible impacts of owning a business. Create a list with your family
of the pros and cons of starting your own business. Then continue these
conversations on a regular basis to assess what is or isn't working for
everyone.
Compile a schedule that includes your business commitments as well as the
activities of each family member. Evaluate your calendar for openings and
schedule or delegate your to-dos to prevent tasks from being overlooked. That
includes tasks as simple as running to the cleaners. Don't overdo the
multitasking because you'll be less productive, and the quality of your work
could suffer if you spread yourself too thinly.
Working for yourself requires you to wear many hats. Coupled with family
commitments, you can find yourself completely overwhelmed. So plan ahead to
relieve the stress of hectic mornings. Lay clothes out the night before. Begin
preparing weekday lunches on Sunday by placing small bins in the refrigerator
for each day of the week. Fill each bin with luncheon goodies, such as chips,
cookies and fruit. If your child needs milk money, include that in each bin so
you don't have to hunt for change. Each night before you go to bed, grab the
contents of the bin and place them in a lunchbox.
Resist the Superwoman Role
Don't try to be superwoman. If your house resembles a tornado, learn not to
let it stress you out. Ask family members to help out or consider hiring a
housekeeper. So what if you have soup and grilled cheese sandwiches rather than
lasagna for dinner? That won't harm anyone. What will harm you is trying to do
everything without any help or downtime. That will leave you with a struggling
business and an unhappy family.
One benefit of both parents working is the opportunity for children to learn
responsibility. Have the kids pitch in with age-appropriate jobs. Create a
checklist for the kids: Brush teeth, brush hair, make the bed and feed the dog.
This can be done on a reward basis. Measure their contributions to the household
on a chart and factor that into their allowance. You can also reward children
with "chips" for chores and good behavior. They also can lose chips for not
doing chores or for exhibiting bad behavior. In our home, each chip is worth 50
cents. Every two weeks, the kids cash in all their chips for money.
Make time for everyone in the family to relax. For example, make meal time
family time. That means no TV, no phone calls and no multitasking. This time is
for sharing your day with one another. It’s a wonderful way for everyone to
unwind and enjoy each other.
Keep communication lines open with your children's teachers and caregivers.
Staying on top of issues will reduce stress down the road. Also, hearing
positive things about your child's progress provides uplifting topics for dinner
conversation. If you like to participate in your child's classroom events but
can't fit them into your work schedule, try being involved based on your
availability. When you know you'll have free time, contact the teacher and ask
whether you can assist in class.
The key is not to get overwhelmed. Take time for yourself, delegate when
possible and manage your to-do list so you can live a balanced life.