Life changed fast. You started a new business and before you could take a breath, welcomed a new baby into your heart and home, and are now you’re likely trying to figure out how to juggle it all while staying sane. Navigating the growing pains of both baby and business may have you boggled, but have no fear — with a little help and guidance, as well as the right tools and resources, you’ve got this!

Having experienced the many challenges of balancing family and work life, Woman of Wonder knows just what you are going through. One of the most important ways to navigate parenting and business ownership is to create space for each responsibility in your life.

Building routines and staying mindful

When we are spread too thin, we go from responsibility to responsibility without being truly present. Life is far too short to walk around absent and distracted. Try to build a routine that allows you to manage your family life and business responsibilities concurrently and better stay in the moment.

Make sure your workday starts and ends on time: Your hours with family can never be reclaimed. If you compromise family time for your business, you will end up resenting your company and being angry at yourself down the road. Snuggle with your baby, your partner, and your pets. Honor and cherish your family because these are the relationships that make life worth living.

Your business routines can be designated in a way that structures each workday. Establish a schedule each week for various tasks, such as inventory, staff management, payroll, customer service, and more. Penciling in time for each helps you avoid the chronic interruptions that can happen with the lack of structure. As you balance home and work life, consider using practical tools for both settings that can ease your responsibilities.

Working and living smarter

Your work and home life will be easier to manage with useful apps in your toolbelt. For your parenting needs, consider apps like Baby Connect and Smart-ICE4family to help you track details about your newborn’s care and store medical information for easy access on your phone. Care.com is a great place to check out childcare options, review feedback, and interview candidates. After long days at work and navigating your parenting responsibilities, it may be nice to not worry about meal prep once in a while, so consider exploring meal delivery services.

On the other hand, work stress can be decreased by creating as much automation as you can. Consider a payroll platform that is simple and user-friendly, as well as software that makes collaboration and communication with your team easier. When it comes to inventory, there are apps that can simplify the process and free up your time to deal with other matters, as well. Use existing resources to make your business run more smoothly and reduce stress.

Structure and duties

Whether at the office or home, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. The way you establish your company can make a big difference in how it runs. Forming your business as a Limited Liability Company is a wise move and ensures personal asset protection. But if you are wondering how to start an LLC in Washington state, you will be better served to have an experienced service to do the due diligence and legwork for you. Learn more by looking through this Washington State LLC guide.

At home, you and your partner likely share household and parenting responsibilities. Consider what types of skills each of you bring to the relationship and how to delegate household needs around those abilities. Regardless of your arrangement, honor one another’s strengths and do your best to build a strong partnership as you navigate all of the duties of parenting and business ownership.