The latest work trend on social media, Bare Minimum Mondays, has sparked a conversation about reclaiming work-life balance. Many employees, especially those working from home, are embracing this trend to ease into the week. On Bare Minimum Mondays, they focus only on essential tasks—skipping optional meetings and avoiding new projects. The goal is to reduce stress and allow time for personal or household tasks that often fall to the wayside.
As a mompreneur, this trend might resonate with you. One of the main reasons many moms choose entrepreneurship is the flexibility it offers. While owning a business can lead to long hours, answering emails late at night, and feeling constantly “on call,” it doesn’t have to be that way. Bare Minimum Mondays can serve as a reminder that you have control over your schedule.
Instead of diving headfirst into a packed Monday, consider adopting the idea of a slower start to your week. Use this time to prioritize essential business tasks while also tackling personal or household responsibilities. It could mean answering only urgent client emails, skipping non-essential meetings, or avoiding starting any new projects until midweek when you’re in full swing.
As your own boss, you get to decide when you’re working and when you’re not. Embracing a Bare Minimum Monday can help you prevent burnout, find a better balance between your business and family life, and create the space for a more productive and focused rest of the week. After all, your success as a mompreneur isn’t just measured by how much you do, but by how effectively you manage both your business and your personal well-being.
Want to read more mompreneur-focused content? Check out these previous blog posts and workshops:
Blog Post: WAHMing (Work at Home Mom-ing) this Summer? Tips From Our Mom + Biz Owners!
Blog Post: The Value of Co-Working
Video Workshop: Creative Mindfulness for Mom Entrepreneurs
November 13, 2024
Running a business as a mom can feel like juggling endless to-do lists for both work and home. Between managing the household, caring for your children, and growing your business, the pressure to handle everything at once can be overwhelming. One productivity technique that can help you balance these competing demands is task batching.
Task batching is a productivity method that involves grouping similar tasks together and completing them during a dedicated block of time. Instead of bouncing from one type of task to another, you focus on one category of tasks at a time. For instance, you could group all your administrative tasks—such as answering emails, writing blog posts, and scheduling social media—into one session. By focusing on similar tasks, you reduce the mental strain caused by switching between different types of work.
1. Task Batching vs. Multitasking:
Unlike multitasking, which splits your attention between multiple tasks simultaneously, task batching allows you to focus on one type of task at a time. Multitasking often feels like you’re being productive, but studies show it can reduce your efficiency and performance. Constantly switching between tasks drains your energy and can lead to more mistakes. Task batching, on the other hand, encourages sustained focus, leading to higher-quality work.
2. Creates Momentum:
When you batch similar tasks together, you get into a rhythm that helps you work faster and more effectively. For example, writing several blog posts in one sitting builds momentum because you stay in the same creative mindset. This is often more efficient than spreading out similar tasks over multiple days.
3. Requires Less Mental Switching:
Every time you switch between tasks—say from creating social media posts to answering emails—your brain needs time to adjust. This mental switching can slow down your productivity. By batching tasks that require similar cognitive effort, you reduce this mental load and free up energy to work more efficiently.
4. Allows for Deeper Thinking:
When you dedicate a block of time to one type of task, you can focus deeply and think critically. This is especially helpful for complex tasks like creating content, recording videos, or writing long-term business plans. You have the mental space to think strategically and come up with more creative solutions, which can help grow your business.
Task batching can be a game-changer, especially when you’re managing both a business and a household. Here’s how you can start incorporating it into your routine:
1. Group Admin Tasks Together:
Administrative tasks like responding to emails, reconciling finances, and scheduling social media posts can take up a lot of mental energy. Block off a specific time during the week to tackle these tasks all at once. For example, reserve Mondays and Fridays as admin days, where you complete all of these tasks without interruption.
2. Create Content in Batches:
If your business relies on content creation, whether it’s blog posts, social media, or video recordings, batch similar tasks together. Set aside a day or a few hours each week to write multiple blog posts or record several videos at once. You’ll stay in a creative flow, produce more content in less time, and avoid scrambling for last-minute posts.
3. Separate Personal and Business Tasks:
One of the biggest challenges for mompreneurs is balancing personal and business tasks. Consider designating different days for each. For example, reserve weekends or evenings for household chores, grocery shopping, and family time. Use your weekdays for focused business activities. This separation can help you stay present with your family while also ensuring your business gets the attention it needs.
4. Block Household Tasks Together:
Just as you batch business tasks, you can also batch personal and household tasks. Dedicate certain times to laundry, cleaning, meal prep, and other chores. When you group these together, you avoid feeling like you’re constantly switching between managing your household and running your business.
For moms who own businesses, time and energy are precious resources. Task batching helps you stay focused, reduces the mental burden of constant task-switching, and gives you the space to think more strategically. By batching tasks together, you can manage your business more efficiently and still have the time to care for your family and yourself. Whether it’s blocking off time for admin work, content creation, or household chores, task batching can help you regain control of your schedule and increase your productivity.
Want to read more mompreneur-focused content? Check out these previous blog posts and workshops:
Blog Post: WAHMing (Work at Home Mom-ing) this Summer? Tips From Our Mom + Biz Owners!
Blog Post: The Value of Co-Working
Video Workshop: Creative Mindfulness for Mom Entrepreneurs
November 6, 2024
As a mompreneur, it often feels like you’re expected to do everything at once. Between running a business, managing a household, and caring for your family, the temptation to multitask is strong. You might try to respond to emails while cooking dinner or schedule social media posts while helping your kids with homework. But as efficient as multitasking may seem, it’s likely undermining your productivity and focus. Cal Newport’s book Deep Work sheds light on why multitasking isn’t helping you and how focusing on one task at a time can transform your business.
Many of us believe that multitasking helps us get more done. We’ve been led to think that handling multiple tasks simultaneously will save time and boost productivity. In reality, research shows that multitasking actually reduces efficiency and increases the likelihood of mistakes. The reason? Our brains aren’t wired to handle multiple high-level tasks at once.
When you try to multitask, your brain has to switch between different activities. This constant mental shifting leads to what’s called “attention residue,” where part of your mind remains focused on the previous task. This split focus means it takes longer to complete tasks, and the quality of your work suffers.
In Deep Work, Cal Newport argues that true productivity comes from focused, undistracted work. According to Newport, multitasking prevents us from engaging in deep work, which is the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks. This type of work is essential for producing high-quality results and making meaningful progress in your business.
For mom entrepreneurs, the concept of deep work is especially relevant. You often have limited time, so it’s critical to make the most of the hours you do have. Multitasking leads to fragmented attention, preventing you from achieving the kind of deep focus that drives real business growth. On the other hand, dedicating uninterrupted blocks of time to a single task allows you to enter a state of deep concentration, where you can think more creatively, solve problems, and complete tasks faster.
For many moms, multitasking is a habit born out of necessity. However, breaking this habit can lead to significant improvements in your productivity and well-being. Here are a few strategies inspired by Deep Work to help you shift away from multitasking:
The TL/DR:
Multitasking might feel like a necessity when you’re balancing business and family life, but it’s doing more harm than good. As Cal Newport explains in Deep Work, real productivity comes from focused, uninterrupted work. By breaking free from the multitasking trap and embracing deep work, you can manage your business more effectively, reduce stress, and create the mental space needed to truly thrive as a mompreneur.
Want to read more mompreneur-focused content? Check out these previous blog posts and workshops:
Blog Post: WAHMing (Work at Home Mom-ing) this Summer? Tips From Our Mom + Biz Owners!
Blog Post: The Value of Co-Working
Video Workshop: Creative Mindfulness for Mom Entrepreneurs
October 30, 2024
Madison Mompreneur Member: Carolyn Kimbro
About Peachtree Interior Design: At Peachtree Interior Design, we believe that every space has the potential to be beautiful and functional, no matter the size or location. With projects spanning across multiple US cities, we take pride in our ability to deliver innovative and stylish solutions. Our team aims to exceed expectations with every project, utilizing creative design techniques to transform spaces into something truly special.
Looking for our latest Shopping Guide? You can download it here.
Ready to list your business in our directory? See if you meet the requirements and join us here.
October 27, 2024
Madison Mompreneur Member: Carla Taggart
About Bizzy Mom Podcast: Join Carla & Kristin each week as they laugh (or cry!) about mommin’, marriage, owning a business and all things in between!
Looking for our latest Shopping Guide? You can download it here.
Ready to list your business in our directory? See if you meet the requirements and join us here.
October 27, 2024
Introduce yourself!
I’m Krista McDowell, and I’m the owner of The Flour Elise, a baked goods and cake company in Madison, Alabama.
How does your business help people?
The Flour Elise helps people by offering baked goods & cakes for their special occasions/events.
How long have you lived in Madison County?
I have lived in Madison for 13 years.
What inspired you to start your business?
I have always loved baking & wanted to open a bakery since I was a little girl.
What sets your business apart from others in the industry?
I specialize in custom buttercream cakes & turning those fondant cakes into buttercream cakes.
What do you consider to be your biggest success so far?
I consider my buttercream hot dog cake to be my biggest business success so far!
How does your business contribute to the local community?
I offer beautiful buttercream cakes that look like the beautiful fondant cakes.
How do you see your business evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I see myself having a storefront location & offering many more offerings that the Madison town is missing out on.
Who are your typical customers, and how do they find you?
My typical clients are looking for baked goods. They find me through Facebook, Instagram, word of mouth & vending events.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
Baking & customer service
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes?
I’m constantly learning and getting inspiration from Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business in your industry?
Make sure you do all your research. Also be ready for lots of work & sleepless nights!
Any product/service you would like to highlight at this time?
I offer birthday cakes, and I am looking to booking some more in the coming months.
Do you involve your kids in your business? If yes, how so?
Yes my 17 year old is my biggest helper! He goes with me to all of my events as well as washes my dishes. He is amazing!
What do you find is the most difficult part of balancing motherhood and business life?
Making sure he feels appreciated for everything he does for me!
What business in the Madison area is your favorite?
Taqueria Luna! They’re such an amazing business & are always sharing my posts.
Who is your business bestie?
Yesss Morgan Anderson with Rainbow Realm Hair Co! We support one another, share each other’s posts, reccomend one another & chat alot. She’s truly amazing at what she does & I believe in her so VERY much!
Anything else you want us to highlight?
My sugar cookies!
Where can people find you?
Don’t forget to read about other Mompreneurs, our latest member highlight was Michelle Thao of Momtastic Fitness
September 24, 2024
PiperMâché Website Studio
Industry: Technology, Business Services
Madison Mompreneur Member: Juliana Piper
About PiperMache: PiperMâché is a custom website design and SEO studio specializing in Showit website designs. Located in Madison, AL.
Whether you need a website redesign or a new website design, I can help you craft a website that is uniquely yours, user-friendly, and conversion-driven. I’ve put together an easy plan that makes this process as easy as drawing a stick figure.
Your website needs to be alive, and it requires constant updates. Outsourcing Website maintenance service is a smart investment. I also offer blogging strategy services to help you drive traffic, and hourly services for website updates.
SEO optimization service enhances your website’s visibility on search engines like Google. Additionally, I offer website audits to evaluate your website’s performance and provide add-on pages to facilitate ongoing business growth online.
When I am not helping at Madison Mompreneur, I love working with local business and have a few added to my portfolio if you would like to take a peek.
Visit PiperMache at: they are just a click away.
You can read more about PiperMache at our Member Spotlight special blog post series
July 27, 2024
Today we are excited to share a Member Spotlight on another Madison Mompreneur! The Member Highlight Series is designed to help you get to know the members of Madison Mompreneur as we ask them questions about their personal and professional life as moms who own businesses in the Madison, Alabama area.
We are continuing this series by shinning a spotlight on Michelle Thao, owner of Momtastic Fitness.
Introduce yourself!
I’m Michelle and I am the owner of Momtastic Fitness where I specifically work with pre/postnatal moms.
How does your business help people?
I help my clients by providing and executing safe and effective workouts for pregnant and postpartum moms. Making sure they are comfortable and knowledgeable about exercising also.
How long have you lived in Madison County?
I lived in Madison about a year but city hopped over Huntsville/ Madison area. Currently live in Meridianville.
What inspired you to start your business?
What inspired to start my business all started when I was pregnant with my daughter 6 years ago. Being in the fitness industry and lacking resources for the pre/postnatal demographic was discouraging. Moms should be able to feel seen and heard not just athletes.
What sets your business apart from others in the industry?
I’m a mom who loves fitness! Not only that but I actually work with pre/postnatal moms specifically. I mean, that’s pretty niched down! Not a lot of people actually heard of pre/postnatal trainers when they schedule a consultation with me.
What do you consider to be your biggest success so far?
My biggest success is having the desire to see change in people whether small or big, I celebrate them all. Seeing people getting results is already the big success.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
My business can contribute to local communities by providing resources about safe and effective exercising to the hospitals, pelvic floor therapists, doulas/midwives, etc. I think exercising during pregnancy especially can be really beneficial to these communities and physicians because not a lot of people know fitness trainers that works with moms.
How do you see your business evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I see it evolving into great, bigger things than what I expect! In the next 5 years or less I hope to have my own fitness studio instead of renting one.
Who are your typical customers, and how do they find you?
Typical customers are mainly moms. They find me honestly through word of mouth
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
The part I enjoy the most is putting my expertise and knowledge into action.
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes?
Continuing education! In addition to continually learning from physicians and physical therapists.
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business in your industry?
I would say, things take time and consistency. Don’t rush into anything that doesn’t make you feel at peace when making decisions.
Any product/service you would like to highlight at this time?
I offer FREE consultations. In late Spring, I will be starting small group training sessions.
Michelle offers training year round, so make sure to check out her website for the latest programs.
Do you involve your kids in your business? If yes, how so?
No, I don’t. Not really but whenever I have clients, and they bring their kids with them, I help assist the mom with their kids.
What do you find is the most difficult part of balancing motherhood and business life?
Oh my goodness, scheduling and keeping up with things will probably be the most challenging thing!
What business in the Madison area is your favorite?
Mine is The Exercise Coach and YMCA!
Who is your business bestie?
Yes, Shelby Simon and Kaelie Harris.
Anything else you want us to highlight?
I also offer in home training in addition to my small group classes. I would love for all pre/postnatal moms to join me.
Where can people find you?
Send me a message on my website or text me.
We love that Michelle offers specialized support for pre/postnatal moms, as moms often give so much of themselves during that season of life. If Michelle’s experience as mom and business owner resonates with you, we want to hear from you in the comments! And if you are a mom and business owner in Madison, Alabama email us at madisonmompreneur@gmail.com. to be featured in a future Member Highlight post!
Don’t forget to read about other Mompreneurs, our latest member highlight was Heather White of Heather Leigh Art
February 22, 2024
Introduce yourself!
I’m Heather White, and I own Heather Leigh Art.
How does your business help people?
I create art for homes or offices or to give as gifts.
How long have you lived in Madison County?
I have lived in Madison County for 23 years.
What inspired you to start your business?
I had a urge to create beauty out of blank canvases. I love decorating and finding the perfect sentimental pieces to be displayed.
What sets your business apart from others in the industry?
I’m willing to work with you (and even brainstorm ideas if you wish) to create a special painting or series of paintings.
What do you consider to be your biggest success so far?
I’d say taking the leap to invest in my art whether it be a new class or better materials has been well worth it.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
From time to time I like to donate a piece of art for local causes.
How do you see your business evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I’m finally launching my website, so I’m hoping to expand my customer reach.
Who are your typical customers, and how do they find you?
My typical customers appreciate original art over mass produced art and love giving sentimental paintings as gifts.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
Painting and creating!
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes?
I’ll notice color trends, but I try not to focus on it and just paint things I love in my style. There are always trends in social media which is a bigger challenge I’m still trying to understand.
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business in your industry?
Just start and give yourself time to fail and learn, but keep going!! Slow and steady wins the race!
Any product/service you would like to highlight at this time?
I love all my art pieces, but I especially love doing custom pet portraits!
Do you involve your kids in your business? If yes, how so?
They sometimes watch me and give me “pointers” or opinions.
What do you find is the most difficult part of balancing motherhood and business life?
Finding uninterrupted time is hard, but it’s good to step away from a painting and come back with fresh eyes…so, maybe it’s a good thing to need to stop.
What business in the Madison area is your favorite?
Right now PiperMache because she helped me build my website and is phenomenal to work with.
Who is your business bestie?
Right now, I’m partnering with Amy from The Keen Hart. We are planning to do a candle & notecard bundle soon.
Anything else you want us to highlight?
I’m a featured artist at Harrison Brothers Hardware.
Where can people find you?
On my website at heatherleighart.com.
October 23, 2023
Introduce yourself!
I’m Christine Stroecker, and I own Birch Acres LLC.
How does your business help people?
Birch Acres LLC is a fully licensed and insured residential remodeling company. It is my goal to breathe life back into the space of your home. I truly believe that homes hold energy, and that energy affects those living in the space. Making your home more functional, aesthetic, and comfortable, will have an impact on your daily life and how you feel each day. Our homes are usually our biggest material asset, so investing in them (in the correct ways) is very wise. Elevate your home, Elevate your life 🙂
How long have you lived in Madison County?
South Huntsville is my home base. My family has lived here for a little over two years. My husband and I are both from Alabama, but we moved from state to state during/after college. This is our first time living in Alabama as a family, so it feels great to be home!
What inspired you to start your business?
Starting my own business has been on my heart since I was in high school. Surprisingly, I got really comfortable in the corporate world after college and thought I’d never leave. There were multiple things going on in my life from 2020 – 2021 that seemed to push me to start my own business. First, my husband and I flipped two houses on the side while working full-time. This is really where I fell in love with residential construction AND saw a huge need in the market for a more sophisticated experience. Secondly, once I had my son in 2021, my vision of how I wanted the rest of my life to look and the vision being sold by the corporate world weren’t aligning. Having my son was the main catalyst to starting Birch Acres.
What sets your business apart from others in the industry?
Besides the fact that it’s run by a young female….
The residential remodeling industry is way behind with the times. The quotes given to homeowners are vague; the expectations are not set properly; the billing process is usually unorganized and not clear; it can be “sketchy” in regard to safety; people’s deposits are taken (I can’t tell you how many times I have heard clients say another contractor took their money).
I want to make a positive impact on the reputation that residential contractors carry. When you work with Birch Acres, you will have a fully modern experience. I want to make sure we have a trusting relationship with open communication. My billing process is very clear, organized, and you can make payments online. I have been told numerous times that my quotes are very detailed compared to others. We will discuss different issues that we might encounter. I am very diligent at tracking cost, and dependent on what type of contract you have, we will be in frequent communication on budget. Lastly, we understand that we are coming into your home, so we make sure that we are respectful of your space and your time. We’re basically doing surgery on your home (your most valuable asset), so I want to make sure that my clients understand what to expect.
What do you consider to be your biggest success so far?
Creating a business that gave me so much time back that I can now spend with my family.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
We donate extra materials that are unused to people that are in need. We will load up the unused materials and take them to where they need to go! We are also particularly careful to dispose of waste properly.
How do you see your business evolving in the next 5-10 years?
My goal is to create a construction company that provides an upscale remodeling experience that is communicative, sophisticative, and creative. I want to re-write what people typically think when they go to hire a contractor. Hopefully I am at 5x the revenue that I am projecting for this year, and I’ll certainly need a large team to help me accomplish that.
Equally as important, I want to create a company where the employees thrive in their roles. I want the work environment to promote creativity (not only with design but with processes too), encourage ownership with projects, empower them to take charge. My hope is that working at Birch Acres is a growing experience for the employee that pushes them out of their comfort zone. I want the employees to gain confidence in themselves and their future. Hopefully the employees absolutely love their job and that joy spills into their home. As an employer, time with family will always come first. Money will come and go, but time you can’t get back.
Who are your typical customers, and how do they find you?
I have two main types of customers: (1) Homeowners (2) Investors. They usually find me through a referral, Google, Houzz, or the BBB.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
F-R-E-E-D-O-M. Can’t say it enough. I have so much freedom with my time. I have control over how much money I make. I have freedom to choose who is a good fit for me to work with. Once day when I am hiring, I’ll have the freedom to choose my employees. I have freedom to choose how my processes work and what deliverables look like. I absolutely love the amount of freedom owning a business gives me.
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes?
I am a student right now at the Interior Design Institute. I fully plan to elevate the design aspect of my business!
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business in your industry?
#1 you MUST get your Homebuilder’s License! Don’t be afraid of the test. My books are on loan right now to someone who is studying for the test, and I’d be happy to loan them to anyone. #2 don’t be afraid to network around town, build a website, cold call people, etc… this was so uncomfortable for me at first, but it has gotten me so many jobs.
Any product/service you would like to highlight at this time?
During the holidays, I notice a big dip in homeowner projects! It makes sense that people don’t want a renovation going while they are spending large amounts of time at home and inviting guests over. The holidays are stressful enough! That being said, INVESTORS are a HUGE source of revenue for my business. Investor connections really pull my business through the winter season since they are always on the gas!
Do you involve your kids in your business? If yes, how so?
My son involves himself by crawling into my office chair and banging on my keyboard… that’s about as involved as he gets.
What do you find is the most difficult part of balancing motherhood and business life?
When I left my corporate job, I was convinced that I wouldn’t have any more super late nights working. I strive to maintain that, but it happens every once in a while. I feel a strong pain in my heart when those moments happen. I use those moments to feel grateful that they are few and far between and that I am on the right track.
What business in the Madison area is your favorite?
Who is your business bestie?
I have a few over the internet, but I need a real-life one!
Where can people find you?
On my website, Facebook, and Instagram.
October 17, 2023