Our Founder's Guide to Balancing Motherhood, Your Dreams, and Avoiding Burnout
If you follow us on Instagram, you probably noticed we were in NY for fashion week and then the Super Bowl. Both of these were bucket list experiences for our founder, Christina. More on our week in NY here.
You may have also noticed that Christina is a mom of 3 young kiddos. She loves her kids dearly and when she isn’t working on Joyasol, she’s with them. But a few times per year, she travels for work and fun. It’s not easy and it truly takes a village to cover for her while she’s away.
We wanted to take a minute and share some of her tips on how to balance being a mom while also pursuing your dreams like she did (more on that here).
We're not saying she has it all figured out (some days are harder than others!), but here are a few things that have helped her manage and avoid burnout.
Christina and her daughter, wearing Joyasol Paisley Sneakers in all white
1 - Define Your Priorities
The first step in balancing motherhood and dreams is to clearly define your priorities. Understand what matters most to you and what you want to achieve both in your personal life and in your pursuit of dreams. This will help you allocate your time and energy effectively.
2 - Set Realistic Goals
Set achievable and realistic goals that align with your priorities. Break down your dreams into smaller, actionable steps that can be integrated into your daily routine. By setting manageable goals, you can make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood.
3 - Establish a Support System
Building a strong support system is crucial for mompreneurs. Surround yourself with people who understand your aspirations and are willing to support you in your journey. This could include your partner, family members, friends, or fellow mompreneurs who can offer encouragement, advice, and assistance when needed. Christina joined the Female Founder's Collective and has enjoyed their support network, community events and talks!
4 - Manage Your Time Wisely
Time management is key to balancing the demands of motherhood and pursuing your dreams. Create a schedule that allows you to allocate time for both your children and your personal goals. Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, and time-blocking techniques to stay organized and maximize productivity.
5 - Practice Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is essential for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. Make self-care a priority by incorporating activities that recharge you physically, mentally, and emotionally into your routine. Whether it's exercising, meditating, or simply taking a break to relax, investing in self-care will ultimately make you a better mom and entrepreneur. Some of Christina’s favorite apps are Calm, Peloton, and the Oura ring to keep her in check.
6 - Be Flexible
Flexibility is key when balancing motherhood and pursuing your dreams. Understand that not every day will go as planned, and that's okay. There’s going to be days that things come up unexpectedly (like all the kids are sick at home!). But it’s okay. Remember that life is short, but it is also long. Pursue your dreams but know that dreams take time to build. Your kids come first and that email inbox can wait.
7 - Celebrate Your Achievements
Finally, don't forget to celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognize the progress you've made in both your role as a mom and in pursuing your dreams. Celebrating milestones will not only boost your confidence but also reinforce your commitment to your goals.
To wrap it up, balancing motherhood and pursuing your dreams is undoubtedly a challenging thing, but with determination, and resilience you can thrive in both roles.
Remember, you deserve to pursue your passions and fulfill your potential, and your children will only benefit from seeing you thrive as a role model of resilience and ambition. Life is short, but it is also long. Live with purpose and joy. Don’t wait until it’s too late to pursue your dreams, but remember life is a marathon not a sprint.
Are you an aspiring mompreneur? We want to hear from you! Comment below.