5 Tips on How to Balance Your Business While Homeschooling
When 2020 started, I was so excited that this would be my first full year in business. Little did I know that 2020 would turn out to be the most unexpected and challenging year! I was also looking forward to my daughter starting Kindergarten - having fun at recess and learning with kids her age - but that also did not go as planned.
So if you’re a parent with school aged kids, here are my 5 tips on how to run your business effectively while managing homeschooling.
Staying organized is key! Don’t rely on your memory to try to keep track of everything. This will only lead to burnout and overwhelm. Use a planner, a calendar on your phone, a project management tool (like Trello or Asana) to keep track of everything you have to do. Never rely on, “I’ll remember to do this later.”
Create a schedule. Although your schedule may change from day to day, it’s good to have a rough schedule from the time you wake up, the break times your kids have between classes and the time the kids go to bed. The more detailed you are, the better it will be for the family to be on track. There is no “one schedule fits all”. Create a schedule that works for YOUR family.
Decide how many hours you have available for client work. Knowing how many hours you have available for clients will help you prevent burnout and committing to work that you have no time to do. Another option is to start outsourcing tasks. This will help free up some time to focus on helping your kids with school while someone else is completing your tasks!
Don't forget to schedule time for yourself. I like to wake up before my kids in the morning to get some alone time and prepare myself for the day. If you're not an early riser like me, try putting your kids to bed earlier so you can have more time to relax at night. The goal is to make sure you schedule time for yourself everyday to take care of your mental health.
Remember your “why.” It may take some time to adjust to the “new normal,” but no matter what happens, don’t forget “why” you started your business in the first place. Your “why” is what will get you through the hard days to stay motivated in your business.