Work-Life Harmony: Tips for Female Entrepreneurs (2025)
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Nov 8, 2024
- 8 min read
Work-Life Harmony: Ditching the Balance Myth & Embracing the Beautiful Chaos
Right, let's be honest, the whole "work-life balance" thing? It’s a myth – especially for us mums juggling businesses, families, and, well, life. It's like trying to perfectly balance a toddler on one hip, a laptop on the other, and a steaming cuppa (that’s probably gone cold) in your hand. Spoiler alert: it usually ends with a spilled drink and a whole lot of chaos. But what if I told you there’s a better way? Forget balance. Let’s talk harmony. Female entrepreneurs, business moms, especially us millennials – we get it. Work-life harmony is the real deal, not that elusive balance everyone chases. Business Coaching for Female Entrepreneurs is all about finding that sweet spot.
See, balance implies this static, perfect state. Like everything has its neatly assigned place & time. But life, especially entrepreneurial life with kids, isn't neat. It’s dynamic. It’s like my two-year-old deciding the perfect moment to stage a dramatic protest against wearing shoes just as I'm about to start a client call (thankfully, client-facing stuff is always child & pet-free zones!). It’s the constant background hum of, well, let’s just say it’s Bluey on repeat these days – anyone else relate? You know that feeling, right? It’s all part of the beautiful chaos! A Business Coach can help you navigate this.
True harmony isn't about compartmentalizing or trying to rigidly control everything. It’s about integration. It’s about aligning your values, priorities, and actions across all areas – work, family, you. And yes, that includes embracing the beautiful chaos. Honestly, this is a key principle I explore with the women I coach in my Momentum program – it's about building a business that truly works with your life, not against it. This approach has been a game changer for me, & I know it can be for you too.
Why "Balance" Sets You Up to Fail (and What to Do Instead)
The traditional "balance" advice often focuses on dividing your time into neat little boxes – work time, family time, me time. But how often does that actually work? Life spills over. Deadlines loom. Kids get sick. The puppy decides your new planner is a chew toy (Cappuccino, really?). Suddenly, your perfectly balanced schedule is in tatters. It’s like planting a garden, carefully tending to it, and forgetting to water it. What happens? It withers. Same with your business - and your well-being – you’ve got to nurture it consistently. A Business Coach for Women understands this.
The problem with striving for this mythical "balance" is that it sets you up for constant disappointment and a nagging feeling of guilt. You’re either not working hard enough, not being present enough with your kids, or not taking enough time for yourself. It's exhausting & frankly, unsustainable. You end up feeling like that Little Red Hen, doing all the work yourself, while everyone else is chilling. Business Coaching can offer support.
My own journey, juggling four kids, a PhD, & this whole Femmeprenista adventure, has taught me that harmony, not balance, is a far more realistic & sustainable goal for female entrepreneurs & business moms. My path, as I always say, is slower and harder. People sometimes question my sanity - undergrad with a newborn, MBA with a toddler, now a PhD with two under two! - but I'm not giving up. I'm still here, still learning, still growing. It’s like the tortoise and the hare, right? Slow & steady wins the race. As long as you're moving forward, taking ownership of your journey, the pace is yours to define. I'm living proof of that. Even with four kids and a PhD, I'm building my dream. This belief in personal responsibility is woven throughout everything we do at Femmeprenista. I wouldn't trade the beautiful chaos of my family for anything, but it definitely makes things more… interesting.
So, how do we create this harmony? This is where the Business Flourish Framework really comes into its own. It’s all about setting a clear, focused vision (Focus), developing marketing strategies (Flair) that align with your values, streamlining your systems (Flow), and making your well-being (Fuel) a non-negotiable priority. And interwoven through all of this is Fusion, the strategic integration of AI to amplify your efforts and create even more space for what matters. You’ve got to have a strong foundation – your mindset, your marketing, your systems. And it all starts with… you guessed it… Focus. It’s not just about mindset; it’s about actively shaping your mindset to become the CEO of your life & business.
Integrating, Not Isolating: Making it Work in the Real World
Harmony is about integrating all the pieces of your life, not isolating them. This means finding ways to blend your business with your family, not pretending they exist in separate universes. It means having systems so robust that even when life throws curveballs (and it will), you can adapt. It's work-life integration – making the pieces fit together, even when it’s messy. For instance, reflections from my ongoing PhD research into Black female entrepreneurship highlight how crucial support systems are for women business owners. It’s not just about the theory; it’s the lived experience. A common theme is the struggle to secure consistent, reliable support – whether it’s childcare, family help, or even just having someone to bounce ideas off of. Finding creative solutions within your own context is key.
Here are a few practical tips for business moms & female entrepreneurs, especially Foundation Builders, to create more work-life harmony:
Time Blocking with Soul: Don’t just block time for work; block time for family dinners, school plays, dog walks – the things that fuel your soul. Treat these commitments with the same respect you would a client meeting. Think of it as scheduling appointments with your most important clients – your family. I completely messed this up once, scheduling a client call during my six-year-old's school play. The guilt was real. I learned a hard lesson that day about honoring my commitments, even the non-business ones. To make this truly actionable: sit down with your calendar right now & schedule one soul-filling activity for this week. Block it out like a meeting with your CEO – because, well, you are!
Boundary Boss: Set clear boundaries around work hours, especially client-facing time (like I said, no kids or chaotic puppies allowed!). This signals to both your family & yourself that these times are sacred. This also includes setting boundaries with well-meaning family or friends who might unintentionally disrupt your schedule. I vividly remember a time my mum promised to take my teenage daughter to school - it was in the calendar, we'd discussed it - and then five minutes before we were due to leave... “Oh, did I say Tuesday? I thought it was Wednesday!”. Cue a frantic rush, a missed deadline, & a whole lot of stress. Boundaries are crucial – it’s about setting clear expectations & having those sometimes-difficult conversations, especially when relying on others. Start small: set one boundary this week (like turning off notifications after 7pm). How will that create more space for you?
Tech as Your Ally: Implement efficient systems & leverage technology – AI is your secret weapon. Explore smart AI tools to streamline your processes, freeing up your time for strategic work or simply being present with your kids. This is what our Fusion pillar is all about – integrating AI strategically. For example, tools like Jasper or ChatGPT can help you automate content creation or draft emails, freeing up your time. Then delegate or ditch what’s not serving you. It’s about working smarter, not just harder – a key principle for any business coach. I’ve found that having clear systems – like using Trello for project management or scheduling client calls via Calendly – really helps me stay on track & reduces the mental clutter. I'll admit, I struggled massively with time blocking when I first started. It felt rigid, unnatural, and like yet another thing to "fail" at. But over time, I tweaked it to fit my life, not the other way around. Now, it's a lifesaver! What’s one tech tool or system you could explore this week to make life easier?
Micro-Moments of Me Time: You don’t need a spa day to recharge (though those are amazing – definitely on my "rich life" vision board!). Find those stolen moments – a quiet cuppa while the kids are (miraculously) occupied, a quick walk with Cappuccino & Espresso (assuming they haven't decided to re-landscape the garden), five minutes of mindful breathing in the bathroom while hiding from the chaos. Small acts of self-care, consistently applied, make a huge difference. Business Coaching for Female Entrepreneurs emphasizes this. It’s like what Lisa Nichols says, "Your job is to fill your own cup, so it overflows. Then you can serve others, joyfully, from your saucer." What’s your go-to micro-moment of self-care? Share it below!
The Power of Connection: Remember, you’re not alone in this juggling act. Connect with other female entrepreneurs who get it. Share your wins, vent your frustrations & support each other. It’s amazing how a quick chat with another mum in business can make you feel less like you’re losing your mind. Need a shoulder to cry on or someone to cheer you on? Jump into our free Femme:Connect community – where it’s all love, support, & zero judgment. We share tips on everything from navigating school holidays to streamlining your tech – all in a way that actually fits a busy mum's life.
From Limiting Beliefs to Limitless Possibilities
One of the biggest obstacles to harmony is often internal. We tell ourselves stories: “I’m not good enough,” “I can’t do it all,” “I’ll never have enough time/money/support.” These limiting beliefs can be crippling. It’s like trying to run a marathon with weights tied to your ankles. You might get there eventually, but it’s going to be a painful & unnecessarily difficult journey. According to a study by Xero, 60% of small business owners struggle with work-life balance https://www.xero.com/uk/resources/small-business-guides/wellbeing/, which reinforces that this isn’t just a “you” problem – and that there are effective ways to tackle it.
Shifting these beliefs is often the most important work you’ll do. It’s about recognizing those stories and then actively rewriting them. It's an identity shift, a core principle of what I call "Identity Alchemy", and something we work on extensively in my Momentum Coaching programme. Ask yourself, “What would the confident, successful version of me believe in this situation?” It’s about embracing the power you have to design your life, your business, your own version of harmony. Here's a tangible exercise to get started:
Identify the Belief: Write down one limiting belief that’s holding you back. Be specific (e.g., "I'm not tech-savvy enough to automate my business").
Challenge the Belief: Ask yourself, “Is this actually true? What evidence supports this? What evidence contradicts it?”
Reframe the Belief: Rewrite the limiting belief in an empowering way (e.g., "I am capable of learning and implementing the tech I need to streamline my business. I can ask for help and invest in resources to support me.").
For example, take the fear of not being a "tech expert." So many women, especially Foundation Builders just starting out, tell me this! It's okay if you're not. The beauty of the digital age is that there are so many accessible tools & resources. And if you're in our Spark programme, we break it down step-by-step so you don’t feel overwhelmed. It’s like what Tony Robbins says, "It's not knowing what to do, it's doing what you know." So ditch the self-doubt & jump in!
Ready to Ditch the Myth & Embrace Your Harmony?
Work-life harmony isn’t a destination; it’s an ongoing journey. It’s about constant tweaking, adapting, and re-aligning as your life & business evolve. It’s about embracing the beautiful chaos & celebrating the small wins along the way. It’s not always easy, but trust me, it’s worth it. You've got this! Building a business & a family at the same time? It's a marathon, not a sprint.
What’s one tiny action you can take today to move closer to your own version of harmony? Share it below – let’s inspire each other! Remember, if you don't ask empowering questions, you can't find empowering answers. Join our free Femme:Connect Facebook community for more tips, support & to connect with like-minded women who get the juggle.
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!
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