How I get it done even with no sleep and kid home sick …
July 11, 2007 by Elizabeth Potts Weinstein
I am really tired today. I could lie down on this Pergo flooring and take a nap right now. Yesterday was even worse, running my life on 2 hours sleep, taking care of a sick baby with a 104.7 degree fever, up all night, and still with project deadlines, a teleclass, an eZine and blog, sales copy due for my radio show, and the never-ending pressure of emails.
How do I run a business and take care of my family (and myself)?
- Let stuff go. It’s okay if laundry does not get done, or if the house is a mess. It’s okay if I miss a day to post on my blog, or if I have to reschedule a client appointment. The world will not end, my business will not go under, we won’t get divorced, and my kid will not be taken away by child protective services.
- Share personal information, in my eZine, blog’s, and business, including stories about my daughter. So, when I have to reschedule a client appointment, or record a teleclass instead of doing it live, people understand. And, I typically attract people who have their own kids, and are sympathetic.
- Recognize that sometimes the universe is forcing me to slow down. When I have a migraine, it’s usually partially due to me overworking and needing a break. When my daughter is sick and home from school, we have time to slow down, cuddle, and read a book together. Sometimes the higher power is sending me a message that I need to take a break, or change to a slower gear.
- Create plan B, plan C, plan D, etc. I have backup plans, such as backup babysitters, recording audio for teleclasses or a radio show, or having a client meeting by telephone and webinar.
- Time leverage my work. Many of my new programs and products are time-shifted work, where I can work on the project at 5 am on a Tuesday or at noon on a Saturday, and not during normal business hours. That way I can work when I can, not on a regular business schedule.
- Stop procrastinating. I can no longer do a project at 5 am the day it is due, because I might be taking care of a sick baby at 5 am. I cannot work on a project the afternoon before, because I may be called in to pick up my daughter from school. Everything must be done ahead of time, just in case.
Not that I have all the answers — but these are a few ways I have created a life system to support myself as a mompreneur. Hope it helps you on your journey!
Tags: balance, Childcare, Time Management
[...] How I get it done even with no sleep and kid home sick ? Share personal information, in my eZine, blog’s, and business, including stories about my daughter. So, when I have to reschedule a client appointment, or record a teleclass instead of doing it live, people understand. … [...]