When I started Lyra Studios two and a half years ago, I was pregnant with my third baby. I was totally overwhelmed at first. Like how am I supposed to actually grow a business when my priority is three little tornados that were all under the age of 4 at the time?! Insane, right?
I really wanted to stay home with them and make them the priority and I didn’t want to create a business that would distract from my fav job – mom! I knew I didn’t want to go back to a corporate design job (I did actually work remotely for one) – while it was a fantastic experience, working remotely still wasn’t quite as flexible as having my own biz *and* I wanted the freedom to work on the kinds of things that inspired me. Branding design and strategy was an obvious choice + I have absolutely LOVED working with creative, women owned small businesses, many of which are also moms!
Through a LOT of trial and error, I’ve figured out ways to help Lyra Studios grow while staying home and taking care of my sweet kiddos and let me tell you, it requires a lot of organization and time management. Scroll on for my best tips for growing a biz when you have kiddos.
Budget your time wisely. Planning ahead can help reduce your mental load.
When you don’t have unlimited time, you have to get smart. Automate as much as possible. Set aside blocks of time to create a content plan for social media + schedule a month’s worth of posts. I love Planoly!
Create email templates for anything you can.
Make sure your most asked FAQs are displayed prominently on your website and address them in instagram highlights or reels.
Make strategic investments
Save yourself time by investing in courses/masterminds that will propel your business forward by quickly teaching you things that would take a lot of time to figure out (or things you just don’t have the skill to execute yourself!).
It can be scary to invest in your business but most of the time, a certain amount of investment is necessary to learn, grow, and thrive as a business.
Investments I’ve made include a branding strategy course, brand photos, and professional copywriting for my website!
If you aren’t in the place to invest a ton of money yet, the internet is FULL of free resources, courses, and more. If you’re looking for resources for things like photography, copywriting, and even branding – send me an email and I’d be happy to connect you with some.
Give yourself grace
Your kids will get sick. YOU’LL get sick. You’re going to feel burned out and tired sometimes, so don’t get discouraged if your day gets derailed on occasion and don’t be hard on yourself. There’s always tomorrow!
Set aside time to recharge
Set aside intentional time to rest. Resting is hard when we have such little time in the first place, but you’ll serve your clients (and family!) so much better if you’re rested. Take a walk, get coffee by yourself or with friends, read a book, or binge your favorite tv show. Turn that brain off occasionally!
I like to take the weekend off most of the time. If there’s a deadline I may work for a couple hours on Saturdays but never Sunday. I know that sounds crazy when I have such little time to begin with but in order to keep my house in order + get the rest I need, I’ve found it to be totally worth it. I’m more productive all around when I have that break each week.
With all of the responsibilities we as women/moms/business owners have, it’s really important to budget our time wisely so we can get everything done. Many times though, we won’t get everything done and that’s okay.
I recently heard someone say that there’s no such thing as true balance and I really believe that. It’s similar to not being able to truly multi-task. There are times to focus on your business, times to focus on your family, and times to focus on your house responsibilities. What you’re focusing on will shift throughout your day/week/season/year.
What kind of business do you have? Do you struggle with balance or have any other tips to share? Comment below or head to the contact page and send me an email. I would love to chat!
Lyra Studios creates purposeful brands for women in business so they can be recognized in luxury markets and build connection at every touchpoint. If you’re ready to ditch the DIY cycle and create a brand that will help your business grow, get in touch and let’s get started.
