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