If you’re a work-at-home mom, it’s so easy to get burned out! Use these practical tips for avoiding burnout and keep your WAHM business thriving!
Guest post by Sunu of Clothed in Scarlet
Take one look at any article about work-at-home moms, and you’ll see a happy momma sitting in front of her laptop. Her hair is perfect, she’s smiling, and her kids are quite content to waddle on the floor beside her.
{Insert screeching sound as we get back to reality…!}
I’ve been a work-at-home mom for more than 7 years now, and I’ve made my share of mistakes. Let me be honest with you; working from home is definitely not as easy as it sounds.
I teach women how to start online businesses, and it’s something I am very passionate about. I love what I’m doing and wouldn’t trade it for the world. But even a passion can become overwhelming, and I’ve been on the verge of a burnout one too many times.
We like to think we’re Wonder Women and can get everything done just right. Whether you’re trying to make your online business run smoothly, or keep up with the demands of your blog, it’s easy to get caught up with all the must-do’s and burn yourself out.
Here are some steps you can take to avoid burnout as a work-at-home mom:
1. Focus on Just a Few Activities
The Pareto Principle states that roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. When we apply the same principles to our blogs and businesses, we’ll find that it’s just 20% of our activities that drive 80% of our results.
Too often, we spend our valuable time on tasks that do not actually give maximum results. You will have to zero in on those activities that can make your blog/business grow, and focus on them alone.
2. Build a Support System
Having a support system is crucial for work-at-home moms. You will need a friend, family member or your husband to give you a hand at times. They will be able to help you and encourage you when you’re overwhelmed.
For me, this means getting a maid to come in twice a week to help me get the housework done. And sometimes, my mother drops in to help me do some bulk cooking.
Consider hiring a business coach who understands the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur. You can also join a mastermind group to help you stay focused and accountable with the work you do. This can be a place where you are free to share your thoughts and get encouragement and feedback from others.
3. Create a Cashflow
One important aspect we tend to ignore is the money we’re bringing in through our work. The drive to make enough income to support our families, or even keep our business afloat can become stressful. When you have some money coming in through your blog/business, it keeps you motivated, and you’re no longer stressed about making enough money.
When your blog or business is new, you might not get much traffic, and the pennies might barely trickle in. Think about ways you can generate more traffic, and thereby create an income stream.
You can pick up a bit of money on the side through freelance work, such as virtual assistance. If you’re selling a product, use your local networks to promote it and get a cashflow.
Money can be a huge motivator. It keeps us going. When you have a consistent cashflow, you will feel better about the work you do, and it will give you the mental capacity to do more.
4. Build a Team
Once you’ve generated a cashflow, use it to build a team around you. With the money coming in, you can now afford to hire someone to lessen your burden. It might be as simple as hiring a housekeeper to come in once a week, or outsourcing some of your design work to a graphic designer.
A good team will share your load, freeing you up to do more important things.
5. Remind Yourself It’s Just a Season
We all go through seasons in our lives. When our blogs/businesses grow, we face a bit of growing pains. But if you let the pain stop you, you aren’t letting yourself grow into something very beautiful.
The next time you face a difficult time in your business, remind yourself that it’s just a season. Things will get better for you.
6. Plan Your Work Week
Over the past couple of months, my work has exploded. There are dozens of calls to attend, meetings to set up, emails to answer, and content to write. I have started looking at my week as a whole, and allocate my tasks across the week.
Delegate as much as possible, and keep your to-do list simple and goal based. When you delegate tasks, make a note of who is in charge and when they have to deliver it, so you can follow up on them.
When you plan your work week, be realistic about what you can achieve. I’ve created a simple weekly overview printable to help you keep track of all your tasks across various projects. Click the picture below to pull up the PDF:
Yes, there are challenges to working from home, and you might experience burnout from time to time–but it doesn’t have to define your business! Read back through these tips whenever you need encouragement to ditch the overwhelm and get back on track.
Tricia Goyer’s book, Balanced, is a wonderful, encouraging resource for moms who want to thrive as homemakers as well as business owners.
For more posts on managing being a work at home mom and making an income from home, check out these blog posts or follow Erin’s “Being a WAHM” board on Pinterest!
If you’re a work-at-home mom, what steps do you take to avoid burnout?
School teacher turned internet marketing consultant, Sunu Philip is a Certified SEO Specialist. She founded “Clothed in Scarlet” to help women discover their unique God-given strengths and turn their talents into profits online. She is also the author of the eBook 31 Days to Start an Online Business. Sunu offers subscribers a free ebook titled The Definitive Guide to Becoming a Work at Home Mom to help them get started on their WAHM journey. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Brittany at Equipping Godly Women
I find having a to-do list and schedule really works well for me. Then I have a better chance of doing what needs to get done without being distracted.