If you are a parent, you likely live a busy life and are often stressed out about various things. Add owning or managing a business on top of that and you have a lot going on. It can be difficult to prioritize and decide what needs to be done first. 

Your family is the most important thing to you, but without your business, you wouldn’t have the income that helps you keep a roof over your head. 

Luckily you are not alone and there are so many other people who are also trying to run a business while parenting. So here are three business tips for parents. 

Make Lists

Making lists can be helpful in all aspects of life when it comes to keeping organized, and this is especially true if you have a business to run. Things can get forgotten so easily when you have so much going on, and that is totally understandable. But to help keep yourself from forgetting the really important stuff, try using lists!

You may opt to use a digitized version of lists on your phone or computer, or go the old school way by writing stuff down by hand. Either way, writing stuff down will help make sure you get it all done. For example, you may choose to make a to-do list or to make a list of sustainable materials you would like to include in your business. Get creative with your lists and you’ll be surprised at how much they help you!

Take Days Off

If you are a parent, spending time with your family may be even more important and crucial to you. Of course taking care of a business can mean working long hours with very few days off. However, it is up to you to set healthy boundaries and make sure you take days off every so often. Time off will not only strengthen the bond you have with your children but it will also refresh and rejuvenate you, making you even better at your job in the long run. 

Avoid burnout by taking plenty of time off and making special rules about not answering work-related calls or emails when you are away. Your family will thank you and so will your future, well-rested self!

Learn To Multitask

As a business owner/manager, you probably are already great at multitasking, but parenthood will require you to get even better at it if you want to minimize your stress levels. Taking care of work that you can do remotely at home while hanging out with your kids is a great example. Another idea is to take your children into the office with you when it is appropriate to do so. Distractions will become less annoying as you get better at multitasking and you will be shocked at how much extra time this helps to create for you.

Overall, being a parent while simultaneously running a business is definitely not for the faint of heart! It can be a hard week and there will be a lot of times where you wonder if it will all be worth it. Spoiler alert: it will! And hopefully, these tips will make your journey easier for you.