5 Mum hacks for busy business owners

1. Feeding the hungry monsters

If you’re like me, at the end of a busy week the idea of battling through a busy supermarket is about as appealing as fingers on the blackboard. With a shopping list saved in a supermarket website or app, I can order the necessities in a few clicks and have my shopping delivered when it suits. It’s totally worth the small delivery fee. On a good Sunday, I’m still in my slippers and the groceries arrive in time for brunch. I say “oh, hello croissants” while feeling suitably organised for school lunches for Monday morning. It feels like I’m winning at life.

2. Family calendar

A family calendar up on the fridge helps everyone know what the family is doing, what they’re eating and who’s meant to be doing what and when. This means you’re not scrambling to find things at the last minute and the whole family takes ownership of their own schedule. You’ll never have to call the neighbour to deliver your kids to sports or forget whose turn it is for after-school pickup.

3. Wear protection

Set yourself up with a no-fuss, easy and quick morning routine, and get yourself ready first! Put your packed bag and coat by the front door. Now you’re mentally ready to tackle the family requirements.

Pop your dressing gown over your work clothes after getting dressed so they don’t get covered in kid goo at breakfast – you’ve got enough to do in the mornings without worrying about a costume change midway through.

4. Outsource

If your household budget allows, consider outsourcing some of the household tasks. This could be by employing a weekly cleaner or paying a student  to do your gardening, ironing and laundry. I consider outsourcing an investment for my sanity and my marriage. ;-)

Remember, you can’t do it all. As a business owner, you can most likely make more impact doing things that drive you toward your business and life goals.  Do what you do best and leave the rest to others!

5. Get yourself super organised

I love technology and there are so many amazing tools available to us today. For one, I carry my mobile phone around with me everywhere. There are no excuses to let life get out of control when you can use technology to automate your business and home life.

• Get organised #noexcuses

  Negotiating client appointments, keeping staff on track, filling empty time slots including kids soccer practice and having a wine with the girls can all be a complete shambles if you don’t have an integrated calendar system. Sync your appointment software with your Google calendar and bingo, your life can run smoothly after all.

• Automated appointment reminders

  This is a must to ensure your clients show up on time. If you’re still calling or texting people manually, turn on automated reminders and kiss that hassle goodbye. If only I could send reminders to my kids and husband too! Sigh!

• Accounting & admin

  I used to sit up late, watching TV and do my books. I hated it with a passion! Using a system like Xero, Quickbooks or MYOB is a massive time-saver when it comes to reconciling your accounts and making sure your numbers are in order. It’s a tiny business expense in terms of the hours it saves. It is absolutely worth it.

As parents and business owners we’re busy doing all-the-things and so often it’s easy to forget to make time for ourselves, but this is soooooo important. We all know it, however it’s easier said than done. You can’t truly look after anyone else if you don’t look after yourself.

Even if it’s just for an hour or two, you absolutely need to make time to find some breathing space every week. Stick the kids in front of a movie (screens are the best and worst thing about parenting nowadays), forget the chores and the long must-do-list. Spend some time relaxing or doing something for yourself. Not only do you deserve it – you can run your business better from a place of self-care.

Joining in on the @timelyapp #selfcare Challenge. Had my Green smoothy already today and a few short breaks already (one was out for lunch with the team so that counts)

A photo posted by Larissa Macleman (@risssmac) on May 4, 2016 at 7:04pm PDT

Self-care is something that everyone should make time to practice regularly. It allows us to recharge our batteries and be more mindful. If we are fully present we can better perform for ourselves, our loved ones, and our businesses.