1. Have a flexible approach

When you have a family and a business to run, there is never a dull day. As much as you may have mapped out your day, week, month or year, unplanned events or circumstances can arise at any time. Whether it be an ill child or a last minute urgent meeting,  having a flexible approach helps to make these unexpected situations less stressful.

2. Delegate where possible

Learning to delegate is difficult, especially if you started your business from scratch on your own, but delegating will help you spread the load and reduce stress. As much as we like to think we are super woman, there’s only so much you can do with the time that you have. It doesn’t make you a failure if you ask for assistance if needed, it will help you to be more efficient and productive.

3. Don’t compare

With us having so much access to other people’s worlds now, especially through social media, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others. Remember though that you don’t always see the full picture so focus on yourself and only use other people’s activity to inspire and motivate you rather than letting it dishearten or discourage you.

4. Be kind to yourself

Most of us are aware of the analogy, ‘put your own gas mask on first’ but somehow it can feel selfish to look after yourself before others. Putting yourself first and doing something you enjoy outside of business or family commitments can feel like a luxury but if you have the chance and there is something  you would like to do, don’t feel guilty. Savour the ‘you’ time, you deserve it!

5. Surround yourself with supportive people

Whether it be your family and friends outside of the business or colleagues and friends within it, it’s vital to have a strong network of people around you who you can trust and rely on. As well as sharing the successes and triumphs with you, they will help you through any tough times and be able to give you advice or support when needed.

6. Live in the moment

Life is passing us all by so it’s really important to be mindful of the present. As much as it’s vital to plan and organise what we have to do both for the business and the family, it’s essential to enjoy the journey and not just the destination.
There will always be something else ‘to do’, so enjoying the ‘doing’ process makes everything much more satisfying and worthwhile. If all you do is tick something off the list rather than appreciate the task in hand, you are never truly living in the present as you’re already thinking about what’s next. And let’s face it, there is always going to be something else ‘to do’! If you don’t manage to get everything you had hoped to get done in a day, rather than being annoyed for what you didn’t achieve, be proud of the things you did.