The 3 Habits That Keep Me Sane While Running a Business and Raising a Family
There's the business you run, the home you care for, and the small person who needs breakfast before any of it makes sense. Most days I feel like I'm both the traffic controller and the pilot, managing everyone else's needs while trying to navigate my own direction.
It's a lot. And it can still feel steady.
The difference isn't perfect balance…that's a myth that sets absolutely impossible standards. It's rhythm. It's building structure that flexes with real life instead of breaking under the weight of it.
These three habits keep me grounded, productive, and kind to myself when everything else feels like controlled chaos.
1. The Quiet Hour That Sets Everything in Motion
My day starts before the house wakes up, and it's simple on purpose.
4:30am: Lights stay low, a few lines in my journal, a few pages of reading, a walk on the treadmill to shake off sleep.
5:00-7:00am: Deep work that needs a quiet brain and quiet house. Writing. Mapping out website pages. Creative decisions that require full focus. I try to keep my phone out of sight if I can help it.
Why this works:
That first block sets the tone for everything that follows. I make one meaningful move before the world needs anything from me. By the time breakfast starts and the morning routine kicks in, I've already moved the work forward…and I'm a nicer human because of it 😅
There's something profound about claiming time before it gets claimed for you. It's not about productivity optimization. It's about starting from a place of intention instead of reaction.
How you can adapt this:
Choose one activity that actually fills your tank: reading, walking, or five minutes of journaling
Pick one task for your first work block. Only one.
Use a timer and stand up between focused rounds
Protect this time from notifications like your sanity depends on it (because it does)
A question for your journal: What one thing, if finished this morning, would make the whole day feel complete?
2. The Two-Block Framework That Honors Real Constraints
In this season of life, preschool sets my schedule, so I build around it instead of fighting it. Two focused work blocks, then the laptop closes.
Block One (5:00-7:00am): Creative work with no meetings. This is when I write, strategize, design—anything that requires deep thinking.
Block Two (8:30-11:30am): Client communication. Loom updates. Light design work. Administrative tasks that keep the studio running.
Afternoon: Pickup, lunch, books, sidewalk chalk, home life.
I only take calls two days a week. That keeps most mornings quiet and available for actual work instead of constant communication.
Why this creates calm:
The day has a natural arc instead of feeling scattered across twelve hours. I finish the heavy creative lift early, then I communicate and connect, then I close the laptop. Even if the afternoon is full of snack negotiations and playground politics, the work has already moved forward.
I’m not trying to cram MORE into LESS time…I’m trying to be intentional with the time I have so it’s productive.
How you can try this:
Identify your two best windows, even if they're shorter than mine or different than mine
Group similar tasks within each block—writing with writing, admin with admin
Choose two specific days for calls and hold. that. boundary.
End each block by writing tomorrow's first task on a sticky note (you don’t need a fancy planner…)
Scripts that help hold boundaries:
"I take calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Here are two times that work this week."
"Thanks for your message. I check texts in the afternoon and will reply after 3pm."
3. The Light-Prep System That Actually Survives Busy Seasons
I keep planning small so it actually happens. Three simple pieces keep the studio steady without requiring perfect execution.
A weekly priority list:
Every Friday*, I set three priorities for the following week. That's it. If I finish early, I pull from a list called "Next Tiny Fix": ten-minute tasks that make the website, portfolio, or client experience incrementally better.
*I used to do this on Mondays but have found recently that planning for the week ahead on Fridays is so much better for my headspace.
A reading rhythm:
I read fiction at night to clear my head. I read one chapter of business reading in the morning, plus one short essay or poem after school drop-off. It marks the transition from home mode to work mode and helps me arrive at my desk calm instead of scattered.
Gentle but firm boundaries:
I don't answer most texts until later in the day. If something's urgent, people call. I keep emails short and kind. Loom handles longer explanations that save everyone time.
Why minimal systems work better:
Small systems survive busy seasons. I don't need a perfect plan to move forward…I just need one clear next step and a clean way to return to it tomorrow.
How to build your version:
Name three priorities each Monday or Friday morning
Start a "tiny fixes" list for those small tasks that improve your business bit by bit
Pick one boundary that would give you more breathing room, then write the exact sentence you'll use to hold it
Language that helps:
"I send project updates via Loom on mornings when I'm not in client calls."
"If you need a quick answer, reply 'urgent' and I'll prioritize it."
"You'll have the first draft by 11am. Feedback window closes tomorrow at 5pm."
When Your Season Looks Different
Maybe you have a baby at home, or your partner travels for work. Maybe school ends at noon, or you work evenings after everyone else is asleep.
It doesn’t matter what your schedule is…find a structure that works for you. Maybe, like me, that means one quiet block for focused work, one block for communication and connection, and one small way to prepare for tomorrow.
Maybe you can get more done in the day and you can time-block a whole heck of a lot of things.
The rhythm matters more than the timing.
Three starting points for any schedule:
One protected hour each morning or evening with your phone in another room
Two designated windows each week for calls and meetings, even if they're short
A weekly list with three priorities and a collection of small tasks for overflow time
The Tools That Make This Actually Work
Notion for project management, weekly lists, and client portals (although to be completely honest, I’m not sure how much I am loving Notion as task management…I’ve used Clickup in the past but it’s not intuitive for me and Notion isn’t built for task management. I LOVE it for client portals, though.)
Loom for updates that save everyone time and energy
Pomodoro timer for focus, rest, repeat
Squarespace and Showit for most projects, with my team and my developers for Webflow, WordPress, or Shopify when needed
HoneyBook for contracts and invoices
Google Analytics and Search Console for monthly check-ins that guide small improvements
Walking pad for gentle movement while I think through problems
How the Day Actually Ends
I like finishing each day knowing tomorrow has a clear first step. I write the task on a sticky note, set out a book, and put my phone to charge across the room.
We eat dinner together. We do bedtime stories. The lights go out early (that 4:30 am wakeup call is no joke).
The work will be there in the morning, and so will I…rested and ready instead of burned out and resentful.
The Point of All This
These habits help me be more efficient, but more importantly, they help me create enough space to do the work that matters without losing myself in the process.
Running a business while raising a family requires different rhythms than the standard productivity advice suggests. (read that again if you need to…) You need systems that account for interrupted mornings, unexpected sick days, and the reality that your energy ebbs and flows with the seasons of life.
It doesn’t have to be perfect (and it won’t be)…just make it sustainable for you. Some days the business gets more attention. Some days the family does. The habits create enough structure that both can thrive without one constantly sacrificing for the other.
When you build your work around your life instead of the other way around, everything feels more manageable. Not easier, necessarily…but more aligned with what actually matters.
If this resonates with how you're trying to build your business, you might appreciate my weekly newsletter or more reads on the blog. And if you're ready for hands-on help creating a brand and website that work as hard as you do (even when you're not working), explore my services and choose the path that fits your current season.
