Hi, I’m Maria-Katarina Johannesson, I am a female business owner trying to stay sane while starting and running Linksandmaria (my speciality is digital pr/link building). I try to have some sort of balance which is not very easy as I am a perfectionist.
To this day, I mess up and feel confused, but in this article, I want to share some tips that have helped me find balance in the midst of things. I will share the steps I took and that has helped me be not only more balanced, but more focused and care-free. It didn’t happen overnight; it required intentional planning and a lot of kind self-care.
Here are the steps I took:
1. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time.
Name a place in your house/apartment your “work corner.” If you’re like me, maybe you’re working from home, and this can be very confusing at times (especially when you end up going through the cupboard for the 10th time just because you’re bored).
I have solved this by naming my kitchen table my “work area,” I do all my work there. This means when I’m no longer in the kitchen, I don’t work. Find that space for you and don’t compromise. You don’t want to start to associate your entire home as a workstation.
Another important aspect of setting boundaries is to establish specific working hours and really stick with them. So, you know exactly when you start working, when you take breaks, and when personal time starts.
This approach has helped me stay productive and reduced tendencies to overwork. And if you’re like me, dealing with tunnel vision – use alarms so you are forced to take breaks when the alarm goes off.
2. Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities that makes you happy
You are not a machine! I have gotten better at reminding myself of this, but I need a lot of practice. One thing that has helped me a lot is to keep an exercise routine; this is especially important if you’re a woman trying to start your business. You need time to recharge so yoga, workout at the gym or something else doesn’t really matter – it’s all about taking care of your body and mind.
Speaking of mind, finding ways to stay grounded is key in order to having the energy to keep going. What has helped me a lot is incorporating a mindfulness practice in the style of deep breathing exercises (just to be clear: I don’t mean you should sit for hours in silence; a few minutes focusing on your breathing can do wonders).
What activities make you happy? Plants, knitting, good food and cute dogs are my favourite things, and they all fill me with a lot of energy in their own way.
The key here is to first identify your interests that bring you joy and make time for them – and not feel guilty about it! Engaging in those activities will allow you to pause from the daily grind.
Sleep is another huge thing to not cut down. Every now and then, I see these gurus saying you should wake up at 4:00 AM each and every day. But only you know your own sleeping habits. I know I couldn’t get up at 4:00 AM, even though I do think it sounds cool.
Prioritize your sleep and make the sleep schedule consistent (even on the weekends). You need the energy; you need to be able to back yourself.
3. Be Smart About Your Time
Avoid multi-tasking! Are you doing something, and then you hear someone wrote you an email, so you stop what you’re doing to check that email? When I stopped trying to be everywhere and instead just focused on one task at a time, I made fewer errors and became more efficient. So even though it feels like you’re Superwoman doing a zillion things at once, chances are you are not very effective in the long run.
Prioritize tasks – identify your most important tasks and do them first. Categorize your different tasks by urgency and importance so you avoid getting bogged down by less important ones. It’s all about taking care of your focus.
Plan the night before – make a schedule the night before of exactly what you are going to do the next day so that you wake up with total clarity. This has been a huge one for me. When I didn’t do this, I started to be productive much later during the day because I first had to scroll on YouTube and come up with the things I probably should do today.
4. Communicate Your Needs: Be Open with Clients About Your Availability and Workload
Set expectations! Define and have it in writing exactly how you communicate with your clients and how quick they can expect an answer. This will help prevent misunderstandings and ensure clients respect your time.
If you are fully booked or feel that by taking on more work will leave you less time to do self-care activities – say no. It’s better to deliver high-quality work within your limits than to overextend yourself.
Have a few people you trust in your network that you can refer clients to. You don’t want to burn out; new opportunities will arise!
I know this can be a hard one but remember, we women are not super robots. We need to look after ourselves!
5. Seek Support: Take Help When You Need To
Starting and running a company is not a one-woman-show. You need a pack – people that really understand you. I am part of several communities and being able to listen to others who share the same feelings, struggles and confusion have had a huge impact on my balance.
Connect with other freelancers/business owners – if you’re still in a 9-5 job and trying to transition to your own company, check out online communities or local groups. Another tip is to participate in networking events to build connections.
And while friends and family may not understand the journey you are on, they still matter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or support – sometimes all you need to hear is someone you love to say, “you’ve got this, keep going”.
And lastly, if you haven’t already – get one or two mentors. Someone who has done exactly what you want to do. Someone who you can learn from, who you can meet regularly and who can offer guidance and support in your journey. Someone who can lift you up but also keeps you on track.
I am forever grateful for the one mentor I have; without him I honestly don’t know where I would have been.
Finding Balance as a Millennial Woman
Finding balance while starting and running a business as a woman is not easy. But if you sprinkle in some self-care and intentional planning, things will get a bit easier. Confusion and doubts will still exist, and that is okay – it is part of the journey.
By setting clear boundaries, managing your time effectively, and seeking support when you need it, you can create a more balanced business life – and life in general.
And I can’t stress this one enough – be kind to yourself and celebrate your wins – even if they seem very small.
We women deserve all the kindness in the world (and if you ask me – all plants in the world 🙂 )
Article by Maria-Katarina Johannesson
About the Author:
I’m Maria-Katarina Johannesson, a digital PR specialist and business owner. Perfectionist, plant lover, and fan of cute dogs. Join me on my journey to find balance and self-care.
