Beyond Mere Balance: Being an Effective “Parentpreneur”
It is something that we all think can be the hardest thing to get right. We all want to be great parents, but we also want to be great entrepreneurs.
Any parent that has to work finds it a difficult balancing act, and those who are trying to stretch themselves to improve a business have to carefully plan and prioritize their time to ensure that both sides of the equation get the care they deserve. Here are some things that you can use to your benefit.
Involving Your Children Sensibly
You may think that it’s best to keep them separate, but is there a way for them to be involved? There are a few things to consider here, of course, including their age and how motivated they would actually be to help you.
Additionally, their schedule can be another burden. But if you can get them involved in such a little way and limit their time so it’s something they enjoy rather than feels like work, this can help to keep them occupied while also reminding you who you are doing this for.
There can be things you can do to keep them occupied, which may mean getting them onto a computer of their own.
However, you’ve got to be very sensible here. For example, you may want them to do a tiny bit of research, but you’ve got to be age-appropriate and be aware of the internet at large. A virtual private network (VPN) can make a big difference here. If you are looking for the best VPN for Mac computers, there are plenty of options out there.
Create Clear Boundaries
Boundaries are something that we hear about time and time again, but you need to make sure that your child understands when you are available, but also when you are not.
You then need to be strict with these boundaries because your children can learn a very healthy lesson. Because when you’re not available, you are not, but also when you are available you need to commit to being fully present with your child rather than answering emails at the same time.
By creating boundaries like this, you are showing your children the importance of working towards following your passions and also when you are dedicated to your children as well.
Learning to Delegate
Balancing your business and time with your family requires effort on both sides. However, you need to remember that you cannot be in two places at once.
Prioritizing your moments with the children will ensure you give them 100% of your time and effort, but also make sure that when there are times that require you to be with your children, such as special engagements, you’ve got to delegate. The sooner you learn this, the better because you will avoid burning out.
Balance Is Not Something That Happens Every Day
So many of us talk about “getting the balance right,” and it’s so easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that we are neglecting our business or our children if we don’t get the balance right all the time.
There will be days when we cannot get the balance right, and that’s okay. Because even though there will be days when you need to work more, you’ve got to remind yourself that your children will benefit from you working hard.
Additionally, your leadership skills will benefit from you spending more time with your children. One will always compliment the other, even if you don’t think so.
Prioritize Your Well-Being
When you feel that you are in a rush to get the kids to school and then make sure you start work as soon as possible, that feeling of constantly being on the go is going to have an impact on your well-being.
And when we feel these pressures, the first thing that disappears is our priorities. Set aside a short amount of time every day to benefit you, and it doesn’t need to be a huge amount of time. If you can break down 10 minutes into five 2 minute-chunks to do breathing or relaxation methods, you will feel the benefits because you can get more done.
Schedule Everything
There will be times when you need to be more of a hands-on parent, where scheduling tasks that require intense thinking is crucial.
Likewise, you will need to save tasks that can be accomplished through multitasking. For example, if you need to help your child with a little issue. The fact is that there is a lot you can do to be an effective parent, and even if you don’t think you are doing well, believe that you are!
