Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balancing work and family is about scheduling in time for your family and time for yourself to recharge. One of the pros of working for yourself is that you can do this. Both my boys are in school, which makes it easier during the week to schedule bookings in during school hours and after as needed. My two boys have enjoyed getting involved with some of the more practical side of my services such as helping to test the kids’ tea range. They help with the making of aromatherapy products, and putting yoga and meditation classes together, and they absolutely love it. They are learning so much at the same time.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The greatest challenge would have to be the technical and marketing side of the business. I gave it a go but just couldn’t get the hang of the technical side of the website. And honestly, my own self doubt has been a challenge too, until I realised that there are no set rules this time. I can structure the sessions and workshops in any way and, as we are all different, we all learn in different ways and I have the freedom to adapt each session to suit the client.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
It can be extremely daunting starting your own business. You can wake up some days and think ‘where do I start?’. There is no-one else to hold you accountable and it is all on you: prioritising your workload and knowing what tasks need to be tended to first. It can be overwhelming because you have all these ideas in your head and no team to back you up and take some of the load off. At first, until you can figure out that routine, it can be chaotic.
The freedom to choose your own hours with more flexibility to fit around family is by far the best, as is being able to be true to myself and use my creative side to think outside the box when implementing my programs and workshops. Also, the ability to create my own aromatherapy range. I love being able to add that personal touch to my products and services as I feel that it adds a little something special.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My hopes for The Holistic Shack are to one day have a store front that is set up with a tea station, raw desserts, smoothie station, aromatherapy and herbal prep station.
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