Lidia Varesco Design

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

Z is for zzzzzzz

The last word for my A to Z Challenge was actually my husband‘s idea. I thought it was perfectly appropriate for moms in business because “zzzzzzzs” are a common topic of conversation. Whether it’s our own lack of sleep (an early-rising child, late-night work) or our child’s sleeping habits (or lack thereof), we always seem to be talking about sleep.

What most working moms can usually agree upon is that we don’t put a high enough priority on sleep. I know I’m guilty of staying up late reading a book—and getting much-needed “me time”—when I should be sleeping. But sleep is what recharges your body and makes it easier to tackle the next day.

So, I’m officially declaring to shut off my iPad library app earlier each night (or better yet, start reading when the battery is low so my end time is imposed!)

How do you make sure you get enough zzzzzzzs each night?

And that’s a wrap on the A to Z Challenge!

Wow, one month of daily blogging wasn’t so hard after all. Thank you to A to Z Challenge community for presenting this opportunity to better my blogging skills. And thanks to my readers for following me on this journey and participating in the discussion.

Click here to catch up on the entire “A to Z of being a mom in business” blog series.

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

Q is for quickly

Why does it seem like time speeds up once become a mother? Not only do you notice it as your tiny baby grows into an active, chatty toddler. But all of the sudden, there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all your work done. (And don’t even get me reminiscing about pre-kids lazy, loungy weekends…)

Sometimes, I feel like my day is in hyper-drive, yet I still can’t manage to check everything off my to-do list. One thing I try to do each day is prioritize tasks, focusing on imminent deadlines first (I use sticky notes for this purpose).

I also spend some time each evening getting “in the moment” by reading from one of my meditation/reflection books (this one by Melody Beattie and this one by Ardath Rodale are current faves). If I can squeeze in a short yoga/breathing session, even better.

How do you slow down when you’re moving too quickly?

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

N is for no

If there’s one thing toddlers are good at, it’s saying “no.” Business owners, not so much. I know I’m guilty of taking on too many responsibilities or overbooking myself. And as a mom in business, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you don’t have enough time for your child. If my 3-year old was presented with something he didn’t really want to do, he would simply say “no!” I’m going to start following his lead.

Is there something you should say “no” to today?

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

H is for habits

Or should I say, changing habits. Once you have a child, you quickly realize that everything in your life has changed. You can no longer follow the schedule you used to have—which means changing your habits in both work and home life. I will say this was an interesting adjustment for me as I was accustomed to putting a lot of hours into my business, along with a very free-flowing schedule. Now, I often work around daycare drop-offs/pickups and other obligations that don’t allow me to work late. But you know what, that’s a good thing…

How have you changed your work habits since kids came along?

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

E is for energy

Energy can be a tricky thing for the mom in business—especially for moms of babies. It can be tough to keep your energy levels up when you are sleep-deprived or dealing with other parenting stresses. I find one of the keys to keeping energy levels somewhat stable is to keep a close eye on your schedule. Overbooking yourself is a sure way to kill your energy.  Sometimes, you just have to say “no” to events or projects that are not beneficial to your business.

What can you cut out of your schedule this week?

A to Z of being a mom in business: a daily blog series

D is for disconnected

On the heels of my C is for connected post, I was inspired to talk about being disconnected. When you run a business, it’s hard to step away from work. That’s why I like to get disconnected on the weekends. Now before I get called out, I admit to posting Instagram pics and texting. But in general, I avoid work email/social media and other work-related distractions. I find the break from “trying to keep up with everything” refreshing.

How and when do you get disconnected?