If you’re someone who wants to be with your kids more—maybe even have entire days where you’re fully in “stay-at-home mom” mode and still running a successful business—this episode is for you. I want to share three ways to optimize your business.
As I record this, I’ve got two very young kids at home, and I’m about to be doing it all with three. (By the time you hear this, baby number three will have arrived!)
In this episode, I’ll start by giving a little context on what life looks like for me right now because I know we’re all in different seasons, with different circumstances. Then, I’ll walk you through the three key strategies that have helped me optimize my business so I can spend more intentional time with my kids.
Let’s dive in.
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Let’s start with a little context before I get into the tips.
I’ve actually had my business longer than I’ve been a mom. I’ve been in business for over nine years now. My oldest son turns four in September, and at the time I’m recording this, my youngest is 15 months old. By the time you’re hearing this episode, baby number three will be here, and I’ll be back in that newborn phase.
So I’m recording this from the perspective of being a mom to two little ones: one who’s almost four and one who’s a young toddler. With both of them, and even when I just had one, my husband and I have always chosen to do part-time childcare through a local preschool. I like being able to have focused work time, but also be with them in that stay-at-home mom role, either just as much or sometimes even more, depending on the week.
Why do we do it that way? Simply because it’s what we want. It’s not necessarily the most financially strategic setup, and it’s definitely not the easiest from a productivity standpoint. But it’s a very intentional choice for this season of life—for both me and my husband.
And I want to pause here to say: this is so personal. This may not be what you want or what your situation allows for, and that’s totally okay. But if you’re someone who is trying to figure out how to spend more time with your kids without stepping away from your business, I hope this episode helps. This is the kind of conversation I wish I could’ve found when I was first navigating motherhood after already being a few years into entrepreneurship.
You Can Have It All, Just Not All At Once
I’m trying to build a life where I can do both: raise my kids and run a business I love. And I don’t believe “balance” is always realistic. I’m more aligned with that phrase you hear sometimes: you can have it all, just not all at once. That really resonates with me.
Right now, I do have my business but my kids are my number one priority. And because of that, there are things I intentionally don’t do in my business, even if they could lead to more growth or more income. I’ve had to be okay with what I call “leaving money on the table.”
Five years ago, that would’ve been hard for me. I had a different mindset back then—I wanted to maximize every opportunity, grow as fast as possible, say yes to everything. But now, I see things differently. I know what I value most, and I’ve adjusted my business accordingly.
In terms of my actual working hours, it varies a lot depending on the season. I recently added another day of childcare for my youngest, which has shifted things a bit. But since he was born, I’ve typically worked anywhere from 5 to 15 hours per week, outside of maternity leave, and my business continues to do really well financially.
That said, let’s be real: I would make more money if I worked full-time. But everything is a trade-off, and for me, this trade-off is absolutely worth it.
My husband and I both really like the decision we’ve made for this season. So if you’re a mom who wants to be with your kids more, work fewer hours, and still run a growing business, without burning out, these tips are for you.
I’ve got a mix of practical strategies and mindset shifts to share because both have been incredibly important in helping me figure this out. And again, I know we’re all in different seasons. I can’t speak to what it’s like to have school-aged kids yet, but I can speak to what it’s like in these early years—with toddlers, preschool, daycare, part-time childcare, or a nanny in the mix.
Tip #1: Decide what you want this season to look like and then take action, reevaluate, and adjust.
Okay, now that might sound a little confusing, so let me explain.
When you decide what you want work and motherhood to look like for you right now, it gives you something to strive for. Otherwise, you’re left disappointed, running around, feeling like nothing’s working, because there’s no actual plan in place. There’s nothing you’re aiming toward. You haven’t declared, “This is what I want motherhood to look like in this season, and this is what I want work to look like in this season.” Too often, we don’t actually name that specific goal.
So we might say in our planning: “I want my business to hit this revenue number,” or “I want to spend more time with my kids,” or “Being a working mom feels really hard right now.” But there’s no real action, decision, or direction tied to those statements.
For example, if you feel like you want to spend more time with your family, maybe that means reducing childcare and making changes in your business to test how that feels. Or if you feel like you don’t have time for your business at all, maybe that also means reworking your childcare.
I’ve personally been in those moments of indecision, and it really stinks. You feel stuck, almost like a victim of the situation—you can’t give your all to everyone, you can’t decide where to spend your time and energy, and you end up feeling like you’re not serving your business well or your family well. And it’s all because you haven’t declared what the actual goal is.
These decisions aren’t permanent (even if they feel that way)
I’ve been there, but I’ve also gotten out of that place. What I’ve realized is that we often think these decisions are more permanent than they actually are. But kids’ schedules are always changing, especially when they’re under two or three years old. So it can actually make sense to set goals in smaller chunks: “Here’s what I’m doing for work and motherhood this month,” or “for quarter one,” or “while my baby is under six months.” Then you can reevaluate.
That shift makes it easier. Instead of saying, “This is how my business and motherhood balance will look forever,” you’re saying, “This is what it looks like right now.” You can even set reevaluation dates on your calendar.
Here’s how I do it: I make a decision for right now, I try it, and I make that decision really clear. I’ll say, “Here’s what I’m dedicating to work, here’s what I’m dedicating to childcare, and here’s how I want to show up on days when I’m with my kids instead of working.” Then I mark a date to reevaluate and make a new decision if needed.
Instead of saying, “This is how it’ll be for the whole year,” try something like:
- “This is what I’m doing while my baby is under six months old.”
- “This is my plan for Q1.”
- “This is how I’ll structure things for the next eight weeks, then I’ll reassess.”
That way, the decision has a container. It’s not forever. You test it, and then you intentionally reevaluate.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Make a clear decision. Write it down. For example:
- These are the hours I’m dedicating to work.
- This is what our childcare plan looks like.
- This is how I want to show up on days I’m not working when I’m fully in “mom mode.”
- Then, set a date on your calendar to re-decide. Literally block off time to sit down and ask yourself: Is this still working? What needs to shift?
Let me give you a made-up example first, then I’ll share one from my life.
Let’s say you’re a mom of two (a newborn and a two-year-old). You want to take a longer maternity leave this time and really soak up the newborn phase, especially if you felt like you rushed back to work after your first.
So, you decide: Until the baby is five months old, you’ll be the primary caregiver for the newborn. Because your business allows for flexibility, you’re going to scale things back temporarily. Meanwhile, your two-year-old will attend a preschool program three days a week, giving you a bit of margin.
That’s a clear, seasonal decision. You know what to expect, and you know when you’ll reevaluate.
So let’s go back to that example. During your baby’s nap times on those three preschool days, you plan to focus on work (as you have the energy and feel up for it). That’s the plan you’ve mapped out.
You also decide that, for those first five months, you won’t take on any podcast interviews, speaking engagements, or meetings. Why? Because let’s be honest—scheduling a meeting during a baby’s nap is stressful. You never know when they’re going to wake up, and having that flexibility makes a huge difference.
You also decide that, in your service-based business, you’re only going to take on one client a month. That way, things feel manageable, and you’re able to clearly project your revenue without overcommitting.
And here’s the key: you put a reevaluation date on the calendar for the week your baby turns five months old. That’s when you’ll check in with yourself and decide: do I want to keep this plan going, or is it time to shift?
See how powerful that is? It may not sound like a traditional business optimization tip—but I promise you, it is. Because when you have a clear plan and realistic expectations for your work life, it empowers you to make other decisions more confidently and with less mental load.
Read more: Juggling too much? 4 Keys to Maintaining Your Sanity as a Mom and Business Owner with Ashley Freehan
Trying things for a season in my own life
We recently changed our childcare setup for our youngest, Ethan, and it was a really emotional decision for me. Honestly, I struggled with it. Part of me just wanted to keep him home with me forever. I cried about it—it wasn’t easy. It was this back-and-forth of:
I want more time with him... but I also want (and need) time to focus on my business... and I also just need a break sometimes. All of those feelings are real, and valid, and can coexist.
Anyway, we ended up moving from two to three days of childcare—and even though that might not sound like a huge shift, it felt so different. Ironically, since making the change, we’ve barely had all three days due to holiday closures and sickness, but still—in theory, I now have three days of childcare per week, and that extra day has opened up a bit more breathing room.
At first, the decision felt huge and permanent. But then I reminded myself: this doesn’t have to be forever. If we want to go back to two days, we can. I even talked to the school, and it’s totally an option.
So here’s what I did: I picked four reevaluation dates, spaced about a month apart, and added them to our shared family calendar. Each one includes a little note about why we might want to reassess. I also set reminders so both my husband and I see them and can talk about it that week.
That simple act, putting it on the calendar, was such a mental shift for me. It reminded me that I have the freedom to adjust anytime. One of those reevaluation points is in December, as we head into the new year. I already noted that by then, the new baby will be a certain age, and it might be a great time to ask: Do we want to go back to two days of childcare? Is this current rhythm still working? What am I feeling?
So again, just to recap:
- Make a decision that fits your current season.
- Put a reevaluation date on the calendar.
- Be open to changing things based on what’s working or not.
Decide when you’ll be fully in mom mode
I’d also say—decide for yourself what the time looks like. Maybe it’s entire days, maybe half days, or just afternoons that are fully dedicated to being with your kids. The key is stepping into that role of, “I’m not doing the business thing right now, I’m doing the mom thing.” Deciding what you want that to look like is so powerful and meaningful.
For me, just to give a real example: in this season, I’ve decided that on days I’m with my kids, I don’t work during nap time. It’s just too stressful. You never know when someone will wake up early, and it leaves you frustrated if you’re in the middle of something. So instead, I’ve chosen not to use that time for laptop work—unless it’s something really quick, like a social media post. I won’t try to dive into a big project. Instead, I’ll do things around the house or rest myself.
That’s a decision I’ve made: no working during nap time. I also like having a loose structure for our full days together. That might look like:
- A plan for where we’re going by 9:00 AM
- What we’re having for lunch
- How I’ll use rest time
- What I’d like the afternoon to look like
Of course, you have to hold it all loosely, but it’s still so helpful to have a plan. It’s the same idea as when I’m working on my business—I start with a plan for what I want to get done and when. You can do the same for days with your kids, so you’re showing up deliberately and with intention.
Tip #2: Consider shifting from a cart open/cart closed model to evergreen offers.
My second tip, and these last two are much more business-focused than parenting-focused, is to set up your products and offers in an evergreen model instead of only doing live launches, and then layer in occasional promotional periods. This is huge, and you can adapt it to fit your own business, whatever that looks like.
The big idea here is to make your business work for the version of motherhood you want right now—not what some online business expert says you “have to” do to make money, and not even necessarily what worked for you before you had kids. If your goal in this season is to spend more time with your kids and less time behind a laptop, then having products that are always available can be much better for your time and your finances.
When your offers are evergreen, you can consistently promote them and see regular sales come in, instead of relying on a cart-open, cart-close model where you make money only during those launch windows. Launching often leads to a huge month followed by a really slow month, and that rollercoaster can be stressful. Evergreen sales take a lot of that pressure off while still allowing you to make significant income.
To clarify what I mean: some business owners run their products in a cart-open, cart-close model. That means the product—whether it’s a course, a membership, or even a done-for-you service—is only available during a set window. You go hard during those five or so days with live webinars, Facebook ads, social media pushes, lots of planning and energy, and you might make a big chunk of revenue. But then the cart closes, and people can’t buy until you open it again months later. So if someone emails you saying, “Hey, I saw your program—can I join?” you have to tell them no until the next launch.
Evergreen means your offer is always for sale. You can still run promotions—like a 15% off sale on your course—but the product is always available. That’s how I’ve run my business with my website templates from the start, and it’s how I’ve handled my courses since becoming a mom. Everything in my business is always for sale through funnels that sell to people directly. Anytime I post on social media, I’m thinking about promoting my products as if someone could buy right then. And yes, when I create something brand new, I’ll do a live launch—but otherwise, everything stays available.
This leads to moments like yesterday, when I made a sale of my course Podcast Success Blueprint completely randomly—on a day when I never even opened my laptop because I was with my kids. That’s the kind of thing evergreen creates: sales that come in at any time, as people discover your product and decide they’re ready to buy.
I personally love this approach because it avoids the feast-or-famine cycle and makes work more flexible. On top of that, you can still run periodic promotions or discounts to boost sales and give yourself a chance to talk more deliberately about your offers. You can schedule those around your life—maybe when you know you’ll have more energy, or when it aligns with your family schedule.
Of course, you might decide something else works better for you. Maybe in your season of motherhood, you prefer cart open, cart close. That’s okay—you have to choose what fits your life. But for me, I’ve been running my business this way for about four years, and it’s worked really well. Honestly, I don’t have the capacity in my current schedule to put everything into a huge launch and depend on one week financially. That doesn’t feel good to me—especially now, being pregnant and expecting my third.
So my second tip is this: consider setting your products and offers up as evergreen. Let people buy when it makes sense for them, and create a business that works for your season of life.
Tip #3: Delegate and let go of things you used to obsess over
Alright, my third and final tip, and then I’ll share some other thoughts and a recap, is this: learn how to delegate and let some things slide that you used to obsess over.
I actually think moms can be incredibly efficient business owners because motherhood forces you to develop time management. It pushes you to cut out the things that don’t matter, avoid wasting time, and figure out how to delegate. Now, that doesn’t mean every mom automatically does those things well, but I’d say motherhood naturally tries to teach you flexibility. And if you let it, that lesson can really help you in your business. If you don’t, the reality of having less time to obsess over everything, whether in your work or at home, can drive you crazy.
This is especially true if you’re running your business without full-time childcare. In that case, I’d encourage you to look at everything you do daily, weekly, and monthly in both your business and your home life.
Ask yourself:
- What’s unnecessary? Something you started doing before kids, or when you only had one kid, that might not actually matter anymore. Or maybe it’s outdated: something your business needed five years ago, but doesn’t today.
- What can be automated? Often, the tools you already use (or could invest in) can handle repetitive tasks for you.
- What can be delegated? Either to an existing team member or to someone new you hire.
And don’t forget, you can apply this same approach to your household. For example, maybe you realize you don’t want or need weekly cleaners but hiring someone to deep clean once a month could make a huge difference. That’s what we do: once-a-month cleaning, and then we handle the in-between. Sure, the house feels crazy sometimes, but it works.
Read more: 7 Ways To Use Your Money To Get More Time Back In Your Life (Trading Your MONEY For Your TIME!)
Being more efficient as a business owner
So those are the three areas I’d encourage you to evaluate: what can be cut completely, what can be automated, and what can be delegated. Beyond that, also look at what can simply be done more efficiently, either by you or by a team member, when cutting isn’t an option. Sometimes you’ll realize the task just doesn’t need as much attention as you thought.
This has definitely been my experience. Every time I’ve prepared for maternity leave, I’ve gone through the process of delegating, systematizing, automating, or just quitting certain things.
With my first maternity leave, I had been doing everything myself, and I had to sort through: What could I hand off to a team member? What did we need to stop doing altogether because it was just a waste of time? What needed better systems? I repeated that process with my second baby, and now, gearing up for my third maternity leave, I’m doing it again. Each time, it’s gotten easier because I’ve removed more bottlenecks, cut more fluff, and made my business run leaner.
Of course, what this looks like will vary for everyone because your business isn’t the same as mine. But I encourage you to start exploring it for yourself, in both your work and your home life. Ask:
- What am I doing that I could simply stop doing?
- What can I automate with tools I already have (or could invest in)?
- What can I delegate to a team member, a contractor, or even to my spouse or kids at home?
- And finally, what can I do more efficiently myself?
It can be so helpful to start capturing these ideas, maybe just as notes on your phone, and then intentionally make a plan to act on them.
Read more: 4 Pieces of Advice I’d Give the Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business
Avoiding losing momentum in your business while spending less time on your business
If your goal is to avoid losing momentum in your business while also being present with your kids, and without overworking yourself, know that it is possible. I’m living proof of that. But it does require being very deliberate and intentional.
In fact, I’ve even started outlining another episode I want to record that’s connected to this idea but focused more on childcare. It’s about making decisions to find the right childcare setup for you—so you have reliable coverage when you need it, but not necessarily full-time, five-days-a-week if that’s not what you want. That’s one of the most beautiful things about owning your own business: you’re not locked into a 9-to-5 schedule. You can decide, “I’m going to make this work in two days,” or, “I’ll structure it over three days,” and spend the rest of the time with your kids. The fact that we get to make those choices as business owners is so powerful and amazing.
When I think about starting my business nine-and-a-half years ago, I’m so grateful for how it set me up for motherhood years later—both in ways I couldn’t have predicted and in ways I was deliberately planning for.
If this is on your heart, I just want to say: it’s worth doing. Time with your children is never time you’ll regret… even when it’s hard. Sometimes a full day solo with your kids can feel harder than sitting behind a laptop (it certainly can for me), but it’s so joy-filled and so worth it. I’m constantly trying to optimize my business to have more days and more time with my kids while they’re little and all at home.
Read more: My Top 4 Productive Mom Hacks for Running a Successful Business with a Baby or Toddler
3 Strategies To Optimize Your Business Without Overworking
I know many of you relate. It’s worth pursuing, even when it feels hard or complicated and you’re wondering how to do both and balance it all. My encouragement: you can’t have everything all at once, but you can have it all across time—just not all at the same time.
- Decide what you want your current season to look like—and then take action. Define your timeline (a quarter, six months, until your baby reaches a certain age, etc.), and set reevaluation dates to reassess what’s working.
- Shift to evergreen offers instead of live launches. This creates consistency in your income and more flexibility in your schedule, letting you make sales while spending time with your family.
- Learn how to delegate, automate, and let go of the things that you used to obsess over. Look for what’s unnecessary, what can be handled by someone else, and what you can systematize so your business runs more efficiently (often allowing you to work less and earn more).
I truly believe this is possible for you. I’m living proof that you don’t have to choose between motherhood and entrepreneurship. You can do both: intentionally, sustainably, and in a way that aligns with your values.
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