Running a business after having a baby - changes we've noticed.

I really wasn't prepared for any of this! Navigating the world of entrepreneurship is challenging enough, but throwing a newborn into the mix is a whole new ball game.

Mentally, I knew the arrival of a baby would mean juggling the unrelenting demands of a growing business with the constant needs of an infant.

I knew it would be tough; my time would be stretched thinner than ever, and adjustments would be inevitable.

But physically - unsurprisingly, doing the mahi with a newborn isn't easy! I've really had to think about how we run our business behind the scenes.

As mums in business, we have the power to redefine what success looks like. We don't have to choose between being a present, loving mum and a passionate, driven entrepreneur. We can have both. It's time to challenge societal expectations that tell us we need to work like we don't have kids and raise our kids like we don't have careers.

Here are 3 things I've noticed in the past month while running a business after having a baby.

1. Some days, you won't get anything done.

And that's ok! If you're anything like me, the high achiever in you will want to tackle everything on your to-do list, but it's important to embrace rest and let go of business mama guilt – you have a beautiful pēpi relying on you. Some days, you will be sleep-deprived, busy with mama and house duties, or need a day of self-care, and that's perfectly normal.

Planning by automating tasks, scheduling work in advance, or hiring help before the baby arrives can keep your business running smoothly without too much impact. You're doing an amazing job, and it's ok to lean on support systems to balance your roles. Remember, you've got this and don't have to do it alone!

Here are a few ways you can do this: -

• Write and schedule blogs in advance - the further ahead, the better. (This can also help you create content to schedule in advance.)

• Write and schedule email newsletters in advance. Various forms of communication with your audience are important, and using every platform means everything is noticed. They might not see your social media posts or stories - but they will notice the email in their inbox at a convenient time.

• Hire staff or a contractor to help you with tasks. Anything important but challenging for you to commit to with your unpredictable routine, i.e., following up on new leads and taking charge of projects while on maternity leave.

2. Flexible working will have a new meaning.

You will learn to be more flexible with your time and expectations of how much you will get done.

That famous saying, "Sleep when the baby sleeps," will feel more relatable than ever, though in a different context. For example, this paragraph took me four hours to write because I needed to step away from writing; my baby needed to be fed, burped, changed, and cuddled before having a nap.

My Monday- Thursday work hours, 9 am - 3 pm, DO NOT exist. Instead, I might work from 10 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 2 pm, or in 30-minute increments scattered throughout the day. And trying to take phone or video calls is nearly impossible.

If there is a slim opportunity to do a fair amount of work any day, I aim for at least 1-2 hours a day.

I've heard comments like, "Man, you're crazy" and "Why are you working when you're on maternity with paid parental leave?" The reality is, as a business owner, you can't just step away and hope for the best. Even with staff or contractors helping, staying informed about what's happening within your business is important. So, the mahi gets done when it can be done.

3. Break things into small bite-sized tasks.

Your little ones' needs, mixed with sleep deprivation, can make it hard to concentrate for long periods or keep that creative spark ignited all day, so don't try to do too much at once! This could result in mistakes or have you feeling overwhelmed after putting too much pressure on yourself.

Breaking tasks into small ones will help you feel more productive. For example, my goal for today was to finalise this blog. Yesterday's goal was to create social media story content for a client, and the day before was to create their social media posts.

I used to be able to do these tasks and more in 1 day, but now it may take me a few days. Breaking them into smaller tasks means I can concentrate better on each task while still getting them done on time, plus meeting the needs of whanau and resting myself.

As I navigate this new journey, I'm excited to learn and grow as we experience firsthand the challenges and successes of balancing and growing a business while raising a newborn. We're taking notes of everything we're learning and are eager to share realistic steps of what does and doesn't work based on our experiences over the next few months.

We hope these insights will be a valuable resource if you are in a similar situation of running a business with a newborn.

If you're also balancing life and business, don't hesitate to contact our team to see how we can support you. While I'm on maternity leave managing our business operations, Summer is here and ready to help with your marketing needs.

Stay tuned for our journey, and remember, you've got this Super mum! Together, we can navigate this path and achieve amazing things.

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