Key Takeaways
- Boundaries and intentional time management are essential for balancing family and business responsibilities.
- Continuous self-care is crucial for maintaining mental health while juggling multiple roles.
- Expect and embrace the unexpected, adapting to various challenges with flexibility.
In the busy life of a mother and business owner, finding balance can seem like an elusive goal. Rachel Johnson, a seasoned photographer and mother of two, shares her insights into this delicate balance on the Rebel CEO podcast, hosted by Breeanna Kay. This conversation speaks to the mixing of personal life and professional goals, providing concrete strategies and heartfelt advice for women striving to excel in both areas.
Prioritizing Boundaries and Intentionality
Setting and Maintaining Boundaries
Boundaries are crucial for maintaining a healthy balance between family and business responsibilities. Rachel emphasizes the importance of establishing boundaries to ensure that her family remains a priority. She mentions, “Having time off from your phone is number one. So if it’s after dinner, for me… I won’t touch my phone until it’s like 10:00 a.m.” This practice helps preserve her mental well-being and allows her to be fully present with her family.
Intentional Time Management: Rachel also highlights the significance of managing time intentionally. “Choose a time of day that you do work without the kids around… My kids have quiet time… I work when he’s napping,” she explains. By scheduling specific times for work and family, Rachel avoids overlap and the stress that comes with it, ensuring each gets her undivided attention.
Balancing Phone Time and Personal Time
Another critical aspect of boundary-setting involves managing phone time. Rachel notes how being constantly connected can detract from quality family interactions. By limiting phone usage during family activities, she ensures more meaningful experiences with her children. Bree adds, “When you are sitting with your kids and you are watching a movie with them but really you’re actually on your phone… you’re not truly giving them the best of yourself.” This sentiment underscores the importance of being present, a key component in achieving a true work-life balance.
Embracing Flexibility and Adaptability
Expecting the Unexpected
The journey of motherhood combined with entrepreneurship is filled with unexpected challenges. Rachel’s advice is to anticipate these surprises and adapt as needed. “Expecting the unexpected, truly having that mindset, like you are a mom and a business owner… this looks… as like being a business owner. There’s so many pieces to it,” she states. This openness to change and the ability to stay flexible is vital. It allows for smoother navigation through the ups and downs of balancing business and family life.
Rachel shares her experience of juggling both roles practically simultaneously. “When my daughter was born… I started just photographing and just diving into the photography,” she recalls. Learning to manage both responsibilities from the start enabled Rachel to develop effective strategies for maintaining balance. Her approach involved recognizing the seasonal nature of different phases in life and business, leading to a healthier acceptance of temporary imbalances.
Cultivating Self-Care and Personal Fulfillment
Holistic Self-Care Approach
Maintaining personal well-being amidst constant demands is challenging but necessary. Rachel advocates for a holistic approach to health, emphasizing the importance of basic needs like nutrition, sleep, and exercise. “I really care about nutrition, I really care about sleep… if I have those things in place, what can I add on top of that?” she says. By ensuring her basic needs are met, Rachel lays a strong foundation for both her mental and physical health, allowing her to better handle her dual roles.
Finding Personal Passions: Aside from basic needs, Rachel highlights the importance of having hobbies outside of work and family responsibilities. “Eventually I want to take horse lessons again and keep riding,” she shares. This pursuit of personal passions revitalizes her spirit and provides necessary breaks from the daily grind. Bree echoes this sentiment, realizing the need for hobbies beyond her photography business: “At one point, my husband asked… what hobbies I have… I realized I needed more hobbies just outside of photography.”
Key Insights and Reflections
The insights shared by Rachel Johnson offer a valuable roadmap for mothers who aspire to run their own businesses. By setting and respecting boundaries, intentionally managing time, and prioritizing self-care, mothers can navigate the complexities of combined personal and professional lives effectively.
Rachel’s assertion, “You are a mom and a business owner… it’s okay to be slower than the rest of the industry or the rest of the people out there,” is a powerful reminder that balance doesn’t mean doing everything at once. Instead, it’s about making thoughtful choices that reflect personal values and priorities.
For those hesitant to embark on entrepreneurial journeys while managing family care, Rachel’s advice is both empowering and practical. Whether it’s creating a vision for the future, managing societal pressures, or being open to unexpected challenges, each step taken with intentionality and self-awareness brings one closer to a harmonious balance.
In the realm of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, embracing flexibility, fostering personal fulfillment, and maintaining clear boundaries stand out as essential practices. With these tools, mothers can thrive in their dual roles, offering their best selves to both their families and in their businesses.
Notable Quotes:
- “Even just having the mindset too, to tap the brakes, slow down. It’s okay to be slower than the rest of the industry or the rest of the people out there. And it’s okay to really just enjoy raising a family because you won’t get this time back.”
- “A boundary is something that you put in place to preserve your well being, like mental well being, your social well being, spiritual, physical.”
- “I want my business to serve me and the lifestyle I want to live. Because you only live once, which is very cliche.”
- “Be willing to be surprised…you will have to shift, you will have to adapt, and you may have to slow down, but those are all really amazing things.”
- “It’s okay to not be okay. There are so many things in the season you’re in with juggling your passions, your business, and family.”
Resources:
- Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rachel.leigh.photo
- Check out Rachel on Pinterest: @rachelleighphoto
About the Guest:
Rachel Johnson is a seasoned photographer and entrepreneur, owning Rachel Leigh Photo. Based out of the Twin Cities, Rachel’s work has been showcased in publications such as Minnesota Bride and Allure Bridals. Her journey into professional photography began in 2018 simultaneously with motherhood, offering her a unique perspective on balancing a thriving business with family life. She holds a degree in Animal Science from UW River Falls and brings a background in service and events into her photography business.
BREEANNA KAY’S INSTAGRAM: @breeannakayphotography
REBEL CEO INSTAGRAM: @rebel.ceo.podcast
BREEANNA KAY’S WEBSITE: breeannakay.com
REBEL CEO PODCAST SHOWNOTES: breeannakay.com/mompreneur
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