Summer, sweet summer.
Summer is almost here, and trust me, as a mom and an entrepreneur, it comes sooner than you can say “Swim Season!”
So, here are 5 things you must do if you’re an entrepreneur who wants to enjoy summer both with the family and the business. (aka, a successful summer)
1. Set Up Systems…for the Home
First things first, you need to set up systems for the home, if you haven’t done so already.
Here’s the thing:
Systems set you up for success.
Whether it is menu planning, scheduling play dates or summer camp, hiring a sitter or a cleaner, make sure you have a system in place for your must-do home management tasks so that the house can run smoothly and give you some much-needed time to work on your business.
2. Automate, Automate… Automate
Know the secret super weapon of successful entrepreneurs?
One word: Automation.
No kidding.
Do you think people sit at their laptops all day, pounding away, punching the keyboard to send emails, pay invoices, engage on social media? Uh-huh!
Automation is what makes all of the moving parts of your business move seamlessly while you sleep, play, bake, read, go on holiday!
Here’s a quick list of things you can automate right away:
- Bill payment- not just for your cellphone or internet services, but also for tools and subscriptions that you have in place for your business.s
- Social media: use a tool, like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule out your social media updates with ease.
- Email marketing: write up a batch of newsletters and then, schedule them into your email marketing service, like Aweber or Mailchimp to go out regularly all through the summer.
3. Dance with….Delegation
Here’s the other superpower that can ensure you enjoy your summer as a mom and an entrepreneur: Delegation.
You can delegate not only household chores to kids and your partner but also, business activities.
Consider hiring an intern or a virtual assistant if you can afford one, if only just for the summer.
Now is a good time to bring people on board and train them so that they’re fairly independent by the time summer rolls around.
Some of the tasks your family can help with:
Laundry
Setting the table and clearing dishes away
Loading and unloading the dishwasher
Making beds
Evening pickups and cleanups
Cleaning the bathrooms
Some of the tasks your assistant can help with are:
Inventory management
Customer service- phone calls and/or emails
Website admin work
Scheduling appointments
Running errands, if you’re lucky enough to get someone local
4. Do Away with it
Want to make summer truly stress-free? Start using your “no” muscle.
Seriously.
Say “no” to activities, tasks and even, opportunities that don’t align with your values and vision for what you’d like this season to be all about.
For instance, it may be integral to your family’s happiness to go on a 2-week vacation this year. Taking on a new project for your business will interfere with it. What do you do?
You say “No, not now… later”. Park it for when school re-opens and you’re back in full-fledged business building mode.
Saying “no” takes time and practice. It doesn’t come easy, especially when you have a slightly people-pleasing personality {ahem, like yours truly!}. So, my suggestion is you start practicing now!
5. Schedule Time for Stepping Away from the Laptop
Finally, do you know what will make your summer super successful?
Stepping away from the laptop and heading outdoors. Playing, picnicking, reading, snoozing, snuggling with the kiddies, sleeping in, exercising, eating right, meeting friends.
All of these things will help you recharge your tired brain and mind and help refresh and recharge you, ready to take on the world when it’s back-to-school and back-to-business season.
Being a parent and an entrepreneur isn’t an easy gig to manage but it can be done if you plan a bit and instead of stressing over the summer break, truly savor it. You’ll come back feeling more excited and passionate about what you do and your family will love that you are able to blend both your work and your home with such ease.
What tips have worked for you to prepare for summer when you’re a mom and an entrepreneur?
About Prerna:
Prerna Malik is the owner of The Mom Writes, a site that offers smart solutions to work-at-home moms. When she isn’t blogging for a living or running a social media agency with her husband, she’s baking cupcakes with her daughter or organizing a closet in her home. Download her free eBooks on organizing and productivity for busy mom entrepreneurs today!
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