Working Mom Tips: How I Balance My Business & Family Life

Working mom tips aren’t exactly in short supply these days. But as a mom of two running a design business from home, I’ve learned that most advice doesn’t quite capture the beautiful chaos that is our reality. If you’ve found this blog, welcome. I see you. I know how you feel because I am you.

I’m working to build a business and legacy for my kids while balancing that familiar twinge of guilt for not spending every waking second with them (something you’re probably familiar with too). We’ve all heard “they’re only little for so long,” and as much as it’s become a cliché, it’s true—which only adds to the pressure we put on ourselves.

Finding a balance between work and family was HARD to figure out, and honestly, I still figure it out every day.

After 3 years of running my business from home with two kids, I’ve gathered some practical working mom tips that have made a real difference for me.

But before we get into it, just remember my working mom tips are what works for me and my family might not work for you and yours, and that’s completely okay. I found my rhythm through plenty of trial and error until I figured out what fits our unique schedule and needs.

So think of everything I share as options to try, not rules to follow—because the goal isn’t to copy someone else’s solution but to figure out what helps your family and work life thrive together.

My best working mom tips:

01. Be Realistic About Time

The biggest thing we all wish we had more of is time. Let’s be honest—as working moms, our 24 hours look very different than most.

Between the constant switching between business owner and mom mode, the mental load of managing a household, and the unexpected moments that only parenthood brings, our time is uniquely sliced and diced.

Time management starts with being honest about what you can actually accomplish. This was a hard one for me to finally come to terms with, but you’ll start to feel way more productive and accomplished when you set realistic expectations instead of impossible ones.

I used to create these monster to-do lists and then feel like a failure when I only crossed off two items. Now I plan for what I can truly handle in a day with kids, interruptions, and life happening around me.

02. Break Down Your Goals

If you’re someone who has a million things to do (or want to do) and then ends up doing none of it because it’s overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, I feel you. I used to fill my notes app with ideas and to-dos that never saw the light of day because I didn’t know how to turn them into actionable steps.

The weight of all those unfinished projects actually made it harder for me to focus on what really mattered. Over time, I learned that successful working moms aren’t necessarily doing more—they just choose what to do more intentionally.

Try this approach to goal setting:

• Set a maximum of 3-4 BIG goals for the year
• Break them down into quarterly milestones
• Then break those into monthly, weekly, and daily actionable tasks

Breaking everything down into smaller, more manageable pieces and then prioritizing the most important things has been such a game changer for me.

If you want my exact goal planner to make this even easier you can grab it for free here!

03. Plan Tomorrow, Today

The transition between mom mode and work mode can be jarring, and I found myself wasting what little work time I had just trying to remember what I needed to focus on (mom brain anyone??). That’s why I now plan the next day before I wrap up for the night as a non-negotiable part of my routine. It gives me clarity and purpose when those rare pockets of work time appear, and helps me mentally prepare for what’s ahead.

Before I end my day, I plan for the next day by:

• Picking the 3 most important tasks that will move me closer to my goals
• Being honest about what can actually fit into my pockets of work time
• Asking myself: “Am I spending too much time on little things that don’t need to be worked on right away?”
• Planning for the inevitable chaos and pivoting my day when I need to (because kids!)

This simple day ending task has gotten rid of that morning panic of “what should I be working on?” when I finally get to my desk.

04. Wake Up Earlier (I Know, I Know)

The working mom tip you probably don’t want to hear, but it’s been life-changing for me. You have to try to make more time in your day, not find it.

I’m not here to tell you that you have to be a 5 am girly, promise.

But I am here to tell you that starting the day for yourself – whatever that looks like – makes a world of difference.

I know that’s easier said than done when you have kids who wake up multiple times a night, but start with just 20 minutes to give yourself time to wake up without someone immediately demanding milk, or water, or a bowl of cereal, or to play dinosaurs…

Use those minutes to brush your teeth and get dressed in peace, answer an email or two, take care of small work related tasks to make room for the bigger stuff later in the day… or just sit and enjoy your coffee without having to re-heat it 20 times.

And sometimes helping yourself wakeup earlier looks like skipping the doom scroll at night…. so you can actually wake up earlier.

05. The most important of my Working Mom Tips: Be Flexible and Give Yourself Grace

Working with kids in the mix can be wildly unpredictable. Some days everything will go according to plan, and other days your perfectly scheduled Zoom call will feature your toddler’s artwork on the wall behind you (in marker, of course).

I’ve learned that the most stressful days often happen when I try to force my original plan to work despite everything falling apart around me. That tight grip on how things “should” go leads to frustration and feeling like a failure. (This is something I still actively work on lol)

Instead, I’ve found that approaching each day with flexibility—knowing that interruptions will happen and plans will change—actually reduces my stress and helps me accomplish more in the long run.

You’re doing two incredibly demanding jobs simultaneously. There will be seasons where your business takes center stage and others where your family needs more of you. Neither makes you a failure—it just makes you human, and you’re going great.

A Realistic Picture of My Work/Childcare Schedule

Working mom tips are one thing, but I know how helpful it can be to see how other working moms structure their days. While no two situations are exactly alike, seeing someone else’s schedule can give you ideas for your own routine.

One of the biggest challenges I faced early on came from having no routine at all, and as someone who thrives with a schedule and routine it left me feeling like I constantly reacted rather than intentionally used my time.

This schedule isn’t perfect, and it shifts constantly, but having a general idea and routine helps me feel less scattered.

On days I have child care my schedule typically looks like this…

• 5:00 AM: Wake up and head to the gym
• 7:00 AM: Home, shower, and tackling small work-related tasks before my kids wake up
• 8:30 AM: Family breakfast and drop the kids off
• 9:00-11:30 AM: Focused work time (my golden hours!)
• 12:00 PM: Pick up kids
• 12:30-8:00 PM: Mom mode (though I sometimes work during nap time if they both happen to sleep)
• 8:00-10:00 PM: Evening routine and a bit of time for myself
• 10:00 PM: Bedtime

Working Mom Tips: How Your Brand and Website Can Save You Time

One of the biggest time-savers in my business isn’t a productivity hack or a scheduling app—it’s having a brand and website that works behind the scenes while I busy myself with being a present mom.

This has become such a key part of making my business sustainable through all the phases of motherhood. One thing that makes this balancing act possible is having a brand and website that works for me even when I’m not working.

When you strategically craft your visual identity and online presence, they:

• Automatically attract your ideal clients, working 24/7 in the background
• Clearly communicate your value so you spend less time explaining and more time delivering
• Create a professional, cohesive impression that builds trust with potential clients
• Convert visitors into leads with thoughtful user experience

A brand and website that truly reflects your business vision eliminates the need to constantly tweak, fix, or apologize for it. Instead, it becomes your hardest-working team member, representing you beautifully even when you focus elsewhere.

As a working mom, I understand firsthand how precious your time is. That’s why I create brands and websites that do more than just look good—so you can focus on what matters most, whether that’s growing your business or being present with your family

TLDR: Working Mom Tips

• Be realistic about your time – set achievable expectations instead of impossible to-do lists
• Break down big goals into smaller steps – limit yourself to 3-4 major goals per year
• Plan tomorrow today – identify your top 3 priorities before ending your workday
• Wake up earlier (even just 15 minutes) to gain uninterrupted time
• Embrace flexibility – rigid plans often lead to frustration when interruptions happen
• Create systems that work for you – like a brand and website that attract clients 24/7
• Give yourself grace – you’re doing two demanding jobs simultaneously and you’re doing great
• What works for others might not work for you and thats okay