Back to School and Back to Business

So you’ve spent all summer with the kids off, and one of two things probably happened: either they were independent and you had a much lighter schedule, allowing your business schedule to flow as well, or you had a super fun summer of trying to juggle kids who were underfoot with keeping your business going.  Now, either way, we’re up for a schedule change, and it’s time for you to revisit your schedule and figure out how to make it all work. 

1. Have you heard the time management story about the jar and the rocks?  Here’s the short version.  You have a big empty jar.  You have 3 piles: big rocks, gravel, and sand.  You have to put all of the piles into your jar.  You put in the sand, then the gravel, and then the rocks don’t fit.  But if you put in the rocks first, then the gravel will settle around them, then the sand can filter down into all the spaces and you will fit it all.  In case you didn’t see this already, the rocks are the important things in your life: kids, family, health, etc. The gravel is the stuff you have to get done, but probably won’t remember in 20 years.  It’s important, but not the things you cherish.  Paying your bills, for example.  Then you have the sand.  Ain’t nobody going to remember that.  Scrolling on your phone, anyone?  For me, this is also some chores, but not all of them.  Folded laundry?  Not my priority—sand all the way.  Clean kitchen on the other hand is gravel, not sand.  First you have to know what the commitments in your life are.  I highly recommend keeping a journal of what your activities are and then coding them rocks, gravel, sand to see where you are spending so much time on sand that you are precluding your rocks. 

2. Find some new spaces for the rocks.  I am not a morning person (night owls unite!), but when the kids went back to school, I started getting up at 5:30 for “slow coffee.”  What is slow coffee?  It’s sitting in the quiet with my coffee and not rushing through my morning.  I lay in bed in denial until 6, then get up and have slow coffee until 6:45.  Then I get dressed and start working.  I have about an hour before my kids get up, so I start the day on the right foot every day.  My anxiety is better, I’m more connected and grounded, and by checking in at work during that quiet time, I don’t miss any rocks that come my way at work. 

3. Set boundaries with your kids. There is time that the focus should be all on them.  Helping with homework or teaching homeschool?  They get my full attention.  But I have 2 sets of boundaries that all of my kiddos know, even the littlest, and it works great.  I have set times that I am working.  If my door is open, they are welcome to come in and chat, or ask a questions, or “parallel work” and do their own thing in the space with me.  If the door is closed, please don’t knock unless there is an emergency.  The definition of emergency has shifted over the years as my children have gotten older.  At this point, there is usually another adult in the house, too.  When they were all younger, I did this as well, but had a different threshold for what activities they were allowed to do while I was working, and what was an acceptable interruption.  The other boundary calls the same rules into effect in the instance of something urgent coming up at work.  I am sure to tell my kids how long I expect to be working, and then the standard expectations of Mom is Working are in effect. 

4. Set boundaries with your work. My job does not get my attention during my kids’ time, for example, the time for my one-on-one homeschooling work with my school-agers and my little.  I will sometimes check my messages while they are on break between classes.  In the afternoon, they do independent work, and I work on my business, usually in the same space as them, following the open-door boundaries above.  If you have staff, make sure they know what constitutes a viable reason for interrupting your kid time. 

5. You need self-care. Now, that may come in the form of slow coffee as mentioned above, and maybe it’s a cliché bath.  But it is also taking that time to indulge in the things that are not productive.  TV, reading, your favorite IG accounts, watching TikTok, going for walks (not necessarily for the exercise), connecting with friends, and doing whatever helps you tune into your body are all important. 

6. The ultimate self-care? Sending one message to me to get on my schedule.  It’s affordable for everyone and can make substantial improvements in your time management, quality of time with your kids, and the profitability of your business.  A couple minutes of your time can make all the difference.  Message me today to that you’re ready, and let’s level up!