Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I work as a physiotherapist 3 days per week and have 2 days working on my business while the kids are at school. I’m getting better at balancing work-life – I set time aside for family in the evenings until bed or on the weekends and am more conscious of being present with them when I am with them. I’m there for most school drop-offs, pick-ups and excursions and I work on the business most evenings after the kids are in bed. I set goals each week and shorter doable goals each day, to keep me on track and to ensure the time I spend on my business is efficient. My husband and I work as a team to get all the daily tasks done so it makes having a better balance much easier and he’s super supportive, very good at booking in a regular date night and encourages more balance in my life.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Over the last 18 months I have focused on more on ‘self-care’, which helps me be better at being present with my family. Prior to this I put myself last, which is common but not a direction I wanted to continue in. I’ve started personal training, saying no to things, and finding the joy in the little things. Learning the technology – websites, social media and different platforms – has been very challenging, but I’m quite stubborn and am willing to learn for myself so I can fix it when it goes wrong. My business coaches have amazing communities that I have reached out to for help when required, and it’s always a great feeling to give back too when I can help with someone else’s technology question!
Mindset challenges have also been challenging for me. Early in 2020 I released my very first eczema book called Stop Scratching the Surface: Frustrated Parents Quick Guide to Eczema for a Healthier Future. The book was ready for 4 months before I launched it because I was afraid of putting myself out there. However, I thought about all of the other parents out there who needed this book and hit the launch button. It is now a number one bestseller on Amazon! It has been really lovely to hear the feedback from other parents out there who have enjoyed the book and found it helpful.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are meeting other amazing women in business, the flexibility of setting your own schedule and the ongoing learning opportunities.
The cons are that it can take a while to get all the systems in place and working, along with the time and investment at the start.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My two new programs are an allergy program and a program for improving family health through living a cleaner lifestyle – making one change at a time, with support and without the overwhelm.
My dream is to be able to help over 10,000 families to live healthier lives.
To find out more about Your Journey to Healing, check out Melissa’s website and Facebook page, and join her Journey to Health Facebook group.
