How I get it done even with no sleep and kid home sick …

Posted on 11. Jul, 2007 by Elizabeth Potts Weinstein in Blog

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! 

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