How to Keep your Energy Levels High as a Business Mum

How many different ways does your energy get drained from you throughout a normal day?

There is always so much to do isn’t there?  From getting the kids ready for school, making lunches to hanging washing and getting dinner organised.

So when it comes to running your business, do you know how to keep your energy levels high as a business mum?  Read on for 7 ways to protect your energy and get the most out of your working day.

1. MINDSET

It is my opinion that mindset accounts for at least 80% of running a business.  If your mindset is set for success then you are going to feel more energised and motivated to hit your goals.  Remember that when you push yourself out of your comfort zone, it will feel a bit yucky. But this is OK. It is your mind and body telling you that there is a lesson to learn.  You’ll be fine, trust the process. 

TIP:  Create positive affirmations that you read every morning.  Positive Affirmation inspiration here.

2. Purpose

If you are 100% clear on your purpose in life and business then your energy will naturally flow to creating content and doing work that will keep you in alignment with that purpose.

TIP: Act like the CEO of a large corporation and write down your vision and your mission. By nailing who you serve and why it is important, you’ll keep your energy flowing to make it happen.

3. SLEEP

Get enough sleep so you can function with the right energy levels during the day.  I know kids can often be the reason that we don’t get enough sleep, mine still occasionally wake me up.  But by ensuring I go to bed at a good time and stretch before sleep so i don’t get restless legs; I can wake most days feeling well rested.  Don;t underestimate the power of sleep. It’s a good idea to switch off all technology at least an hour before bed and that includes the TV. If you are staying up until past midnight binge watching shows on Netflix then you are doing your body a disservice.

TIP:  If you struggle to get to sleep then try a guided meditation.  I like the apps Smiling Mind and Insight Timer

4. EXERCISE

Try to establish a routine of doing some exercise whether it’s first thing in the morning or at another time that fits in your daily schedule.  Exercise will keep you strong and healthy but it also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energise your spirits and make you feel good.  Even modest exercise will help you feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive.  Win win!

TIP:  Change it up.  Some days I will follow a YouTube video and do a Tabatta routine or some yoga.  Other days I will do some skipping and go for a run. Twice a week I go to the gym to lift weights.  

5. MORNING ROUTINE

Invest some time in a strong morning routine that will become second nature in no time at all.  It will set the tone for the day ahead. If you start the day the same way every day, it means you don’t have to think about what’s coming next.  Aim to fulfill your mind, body and spirit.

MY ROUTINE: I get up at the same time every day, 6.17am.  My alarm clock is on the other side of the room so I have to get up to switch it off.  My phone is charged in the office overnight so i don’t reach for it as soon as I wake up.  I exercise (see above), shower and change, then I get one household job done before enjoying a black coffee.  The kids are amongst all this; the only thing they don’t interrupt is my exercise. Then after school drop off I meditate at my desk to allow my brain to slow down which ultimately fires me up for the rest of the day.

Find what works for you and stick to it so it becomes a habit.

6. EAT WELL

At the risk of sounding like your mum; be choosy about what you put in your body because it will most definitely have an effect on how you feel and your energy levels.  Lunch for me is usually a protein source plus plenty of fresh vegetables and a bit of fruit. I will snack on nuts and seeds and the occasional bit of dark chocolate. I’m no saint and sometimes make toast and honey for lunch, but I always feel so sleepy afterwards.

TIP:  I have been doing Intermittent Fasting for a while now.  It improves my energy levels no end.  Also look up information on following a Keto diet.

7. LIMIT DISTRACTIONS

Social media can be very draining.  Especially if you find (even subconsciously) that you get affected by other people’s posts.  That old feeling of FOMO can creep in and affect how you feel about yourself and your own life which in turn affects your output.  Also ensure the people that you follow who are in your own industry aren;t draining you of your creativity or giving you feelings of not achieving enough, not creating enough content or the right content.  If they are draining, let them go.  

TIP:  Hide your phone in another room while you work so you can STAY IN YOUR LANE and feel pumped about the work you are doing rather than constantly comparing.

Hopefully these 7 ways to keep your energy levels high as a business mum will be useful to you.  With all new habits; begin by implementing one at a time so you have some time to adjust then start on the next.  You’ll be flying all day with heaps of energy in no time.  I look forward to seeing what you achieve.

Much love for now…
Nicola

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Learn How to Prioritise in 5 Easy Steps

You know the phrase ‘we all have the same amount of hours in a day’? Does that make you feel like a total failure because you’re not making the most of the 24 hours we’re all given every day? Yeah me too.

Well i’m calling BS on the notion that we all have the same amount of time. I get that there are 24 hours in the day but so much of the day is not our own once we take into consideration the kids, the meal preparation, the kids’ activities that need to be attended. 

  

There are so many ways that time is taken away from us mums.

Let’s face it.  We are time poor.

  

Learn How to Prioritise

If we learn how to prioritise, we can manage the time we do have allocated for work. If you’re like me, you have around 5 hours a day to get it all done.

One thing that will help claw back a bit of time is prioritising. 

  

5 Easy Steps

Here are my 5 easy steps to prioritising what’s important and working on the tasks that really matter.

1. Digital or Paper to do list

Firstly decide if you are a digital or paper list writer. Work out where your to do list is going to be kept and do it all in the one place. I use Asana as I love to be able to jiggle things around and drag and drop to prioritise different things.

2. Sunday night planning

Start your week with a Sunday night planning session by noting down what you want to achieve in the coming week (3-5 things is good).  This is a fantastic way to set yourself up for the week ahead and can take as little as 20 minutes.

3. Break those tasks down

Break those tasks into as many smaller tasks as necessary to get them done. 

4. Prioritise

Next, prioritise your list using the principles; do now, do later, delegate or delete.
Then order the DO NOW tasks so you are working on the most imortant things first.

Please enjoy these other useful blog posts for mums in business. 

5. Repeat

Each evening/morning go back to the list and rework which tasks are high priority to be done NOW. Using this method you know exactly what to start on when you sit at your desk. No faffing and wasting time 🙂

This method keeps me on track and makes the most of my precious work time.

I also find if I get distracted with a meeting or a phone call, these 5 easy steps allow me to get back on track with the right tasks without wasting time wondering what it is I should be doing.

I hope this helps you to prioritise your tasks and make the most of the time that you have available for work.  Which if you’re a mummy, is probably limited, so let’s make the most of it!

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5 Ways I Invested in Myself and in my Business in 2019

Never stop learning.  That’s what we’re told but as an adult there can be limited opportunities to learn new things.  If you’re a business owner however, there is ample opportunity and any opportunity that does arise should be grabbed with both hands.

It took me a while to realise this though!  My husband and his business partner spent some time learning and growing with Kerwin Rae which they found very valuable.  While the stories and lessons that came home with them were amazing; I didn’t see them as relevant to me even though I was running my own business working from home.  I now know I wasn’t taking my business and my personal growth very seriously.

My Business Pivot

Then at the beginning of 2019 I decided to pivot with my business and move into the online sphere. I found a real passion in me to want to help other mums in business with their productivity and businesses.  

Once I found the passion, I found the desire to grow and improve. We all know that growth takes effort but it takes a little financial investment too.  

Read on to see the ways in which I invested in myself and my business in 2019.

1. Pinfinite Growth – Melyssa Griffin

I had watched a couple of webinars of Melyssa’s and decided if I was going to have an online business then Pinterest would be a necessary part of my marketing strategy to drive traffic to my website.  I purchased her course Pinfinite Growth and have found the lessons very valuable. I continue to follow Melyssa online as she talks a lot about mindset and personal growth as well as about the various animals they have rescued and adopted!

2. List Builder’s Society – Amy Porterfield

With an online business, I knew it was essential to start building an email list so I then purchased Amy Porterfield’s course; List Builder’s Society.  This started me on a journey of designing lead magnets and learning ways to attract people onto my list.

3. The Passive Project – Gemma Bonham Carter

Perhaps the most valuable investment for me and my business has been joining the membership group, The Passive Project.  Gemma Bonham Carter is a warm and friendly woman who is rocking the online business world. She describes herself as a Digital Entrepreneur and delivers valuable lessons and content to her members on how to succeed online with digital products.  Having a supportive place to ask all those pressing questions regarding tech, funnels, launches and more is amazing. I have been a member for 7 months now and love the support.

4. Live Your Inspired Life weekend workshop – Inspired Results

I recently spent a weekend delving into my intentions and mindset to live my inspired life.  This weekend gave me clarity of focus, allowed me to learn more about myself and where I want to be in life and led to me choosing to further my studies in hypnotherapy and NLP.

Please enjoy these other useful blog posts for mums in business. 

5. Living My Best Life!

On a personal level I took working on my mindset and my personal growth much more seriously in 2019.  I realised that to achieve success I needed to commit to taking action, have better systems and live an intentional life.

Here is how I am living my best life:

Morning Routine 

– I started getting up at the same time every day and prioritising exercise in the mornings.  For years I told myself I wasn’t a morning person but by finding my magic time of 6.24am, I have proved myself wrong.  It’s all in changing the story that no longer serves you well and taking action.

Self Care

– I have prioritised self care by having a system of daily meditation, doing yoga or a workout in the mornings and by being better at asking for help when I need it around the house.

Mindset

– this is an ongoing process but i’ve been working on manifesting, abundance and belief in myself.  For me, this looks like writing down 3 things i’m grateful for daily, setting my intentions and manifestations in a journal, reading my positive affirmations every day when i sit down at my desk and making sure my negative self talk is kept in check.

 

Of course, I am not perfect and sometimes things slide but with the right mindset, I can bring myself back to my systems and daily rituals.  In the past, I would have thought myself a failure and all but given up.

I hope you have seem some value in reading about the 5 Ways I Invested in Myself and in my Business in 2019.  I’d be interested to hear how you invest in yourself so feel free to leave me a comment below.

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5 Tips for Staying Productive in the School Holidays

School holidays.  Let’s face it, for mums in business, they are hard.  We don’t need to shy away from the fact that it can be a tricky time but what we need to do is find strategies to make school holidays and business work better together.

Don’t get me wrong, of course, it’s great to have the kids home, to be free of the routine that controls our lives for 40 weeks of the year, to stay in pyjamas all day if we choose and to enjoy the mornings not turning into shouting matches.

But how do we get our work done when the kids are in the house? The kids want our attention but we know there are deadlines to meet.  We want to enjoy being with our kids but it can be hard when work is often on our mind.

When help from relatives is limited and child care is non existent (this is me!) it can be stressful trying to continue running a business with kids at home 24/7.

To help overcome the stress of combining kids at home and running a business; here are my 5 tips for staying productive in the holidays.

1. GET UP!

It’s easy to slip into old habits during the holidays but getting up early allows you to find extra time in the day.  Whether that time is to get some work done, do a couple of household chores or to find some ‘me time’ for exercise, mediation or journalling.  The morning is precious time that can be used in a really productive way. Admittedly, I do set the alarm an hour later than when school is on!  We all need a bit of a break from the norm don’t we?!!

2. CREATE A NEW SYSTEM

I find having a system is the only way to ensure I remain relaxed about getting my work done.  If I have created set times when i know i will get my work done, I can relax when I am with the kids because I’m not stressing about work.

The trick is to create a new system that works for the holidays.  For me, that is working early in the morning and at night. Not necessarily every day but as long as I know I have created that time in my week, I can relax and enjoy my time with the kids.

3. HAVE A CLEAR PLAN

Use Sunday night to prepare then head into the week with a clear plan in place.  Knowing what to work on and when to do it removes the stress of having work on your mind.  Trying to squeeze work in amongst all the other activities and demands from the kids is a recipe for failure. 

4. DO THE BARE MINIMUM

The long summer school holiday is perhaps not the time to go for that major rebrand or to launch a new product.  It is however a great time to plan for those things. Work out what the bare minimum looks like for your business and stick to that.  Keeping up with social media, emails and a few other necessary tasks will keep your business ticking over but relieve some stress during this busy time.

Please enjoy these other useful blog posts for mums in business. 

5. AVOID DISTRACTIONS

When you do get the chance to work it is important to remove all other distractions so you can be your most productive.  Leave your phone in another room, put the tv on for the kids if you have to, stick on your headphones and do what you need to do in the most efficient time you can.  

Do you have more than 5 tips for staying productive in the school holidays?  Let me know what else you would add to this list to help with managing business and kids?

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Planning for an Awesome 2020

Oh my goodness the pressure to be awesome is immense!!  I really do not want to add stress to our already busy lives as working mums.  However, I do know that taking the time to plan and set goals will actually increase your chances of having an ‘awesome’ 2020.

Use my Planning for 2020 template to set up your year.  This is a simplified system for goals setting but who’s got time to wade through a big long winded document.  What it will do is clarify in your mind where you want your business to go, what to start on first and help to make you accountable.

So if being organised as you head into Q1  sounds like a good plan, hit the below link and get planning!!

Feel free to email me your completed document.  I’d love to see what you have planned.

Have you reviewed your previous decade to help you with knowing where to go as we head into 2020?  If not, then feel free to use the below template.

Hopefully the below articles will also be helpful for you and your business.

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Your Decade in Review

As a new decade fast approaches, now is the time to review all that you have achieved and the lessons you have learnt.

Taking the time to review the last decade will give you the opportunity to see where you want to be heading into the 2020s.

Click on the below image to view the document, take 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to fill it out.  I guarantee it will be worth it for your business and your mindset.

Hopefully the below articles will also be helpful for you and your business.

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