Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s an endless quest, and I make no secret (it’s all over my content) of the constant mental gymnastics I do to cope. With three children, and my husband working all sorts of hours on police shift work, I have tried so many different working and domestic arrangements. It does feel virtually impossible at times to give attention to all the things – children, friendships, work, health, exercise, romance, sleep…just choose three at a time, right?
I often think of David Sedaris’ Four burner theory, which says we really can’t have all the burners running at full heat at the same time if we want to reach the maximum potential on at least one. Or we can accept that we can have balance across all four if we let them simmer away, but not reach full boil. I try to acknowledge the seasons we move through and accept that I have to outsource and let some things go for a time, if I want to give a full and rewarding commitment to something else.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Aside from the massive challenges we’ve handled as a family to get through crisis, I’ve dug deep so many times to overcome sleep deprivation and the demands of parenting three little kids while working. Enough sleep and movement, nutritious food, and being open to support from others are my non-negotiables.
I also work hard every day to be aware of limiting beliefs around my capacity to earn and my mindset around time. As a small business owner, supporting a young family, I get exposed to a lot of other people’s fears and beliefs around what risks are and what is possible.
As I say on my website, if I listen to the naysayers, I wouldn’t be where I am. My three favourite rules to live by: “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it”, “If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no”, “If you never take a step, you’ll always be in the same place”.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The inability to stop working on it for starters! For me, creative ideas and inspiration are always flowing, and I might be trying to get some exercise at the gym and I will think of someone I’d love to collaborate with, or a message I’d love to share with my audience, and I have to stop the rower and pull out my phone.
I absolutely draw on all my coaching and business skills that I’ve honed over the years. I’ve been able to chunk my time and use techniques like time blocking and goal setting to work out a fairly smooth routine. Every day, I have mindset and manifestation rituals that help me stay grounded and seeing the big picture. I try to follow my intuition a lot to help me “feel” my way through challenges and opportunities – I’ve always trusted the energetics.
I absolutely love showing my kids the content I create and letting them help me set up the workshops I run. They sit in my office with me, and I’ve made them all sit and watch ‘The Secret’ movie to explain the law of attraction! Having a powerful mindset and self-belief is a legacy I can leave with them and perhaps they’d one day even like to be involved in similar work or run their own business.
The most rewarding thing is that I get to apply my skills and knowledge in psychology and coaching within my home with my kids and husband – we are always a work in progress and are 100% committed to caring for our mental wellbeing above all else. Without this in order, I simply won’t be a great mum or be able to hold the space to support others, which is what lights me up.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’m so excited for 2024. I’m beginning on day one with a New Year’s Day online goal setting and manifestation party, for any ladies who want to join and feel inspired for what’s possible in 2024!
I’m also testing and opening my ‘Forward’ coaching program, which is designed specifically to support mothers who want to be working to successfully transition the return-to-work phase after having time off with bub. I’ve navigated this critical phase three times and boy, do we underestimate how much has changed and that much needs to happen!
We prepare so well for the departure from work to have the baby, and then the return sneaks up and turns the whole family upside down. Mama’s identity has completely changed and when we take the time and care to work through what’s most important for us personally, and to uphold for our family during the transition, then we can get through it without the stress and overwhelm.
Visit the Align Mind Coaching website to find out more about the wonderful services they offer. You can also connect with them on Instagram and Facebook.
