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Mastering Time Management as a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur and Working Mom
As a multi-passionate entrepreneur and a mom to a busy 4-year-old, time management is not just about keeping my businesses running—it’s about making sure I’m present in all the areas of my life that matter. Whether I’m managing HR work, running my photography business, recording podcast episodes, or simply spending quality time with my family, effective time management is the secret sauce that holds it all together.
Hey, I’m Katy! I’m an Entrepreneur, Human Resources professional, and podcast host—and like many of you, I’m also navigating the adventure of motherhood. I’m passionate about helping others thrive in their careers and businesses while also figuring out how to do the same in my own life. I’ve learned a few things along the way about juggling multiple passions, and today, I’m sharing my best time management tips to help you thrive as both an entrepreneur/employee and a mom.
I know firsthand how challenging it can be to balance multiple passions, work, and motherhood. But with the right strategies, you can create space for your business and your family without feeling stretched too thin. In this post, I’ll share practical time management tips I’ve used to thrive in both my work and my role as a mom.
1. Defining Your Core Purpose for Focused Time Management
For any multi-passionate entrepreneur, time management starts with knowing what drives you. When juggling multiple pursuits, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it all in the first place. As a mom, I’ve found that defining my core purpose helps me stay grounded and gives me a clear sense of direction when balancing work and family.
For me, my core purpose across my HR work, photography, and podcasting is helping others thrive in their careers and personal lives. But just as importantly, it’s about being the best mom I can be to my 4-year-old. Defining these purposes makes it easier to prioritize tasks that align with my goals.
Time Management Tip: Identify what matters most to you—both in business and family life. When you’re clear on your core purpose, it’s easier to make intentional choices about how you spend your time. For example, if spending quality time with your child is non-negotiable, you can structure your day around it.
2. Setting Boundaries to Protect Your Time as a Mom and Entrepreneur
Boundaries are everything when it comes to managing your time effectively, especially as a mom. Without boundaries, it’s easy to let work bleed into family time or to feel guilty about stepping away from your business for your child. Setting clear limits allows you to be fully present in both roles, without feeling overwhelmed or overcommitted.
In my house, I set clear office hours when I’m focused on work, but I also have non-negotiable family time. For example, from dinner until bedtime, I’m fully with my little one—no checking emails, no business calls. This boundary allows me to be present for my child while also maintaining focus during work hours.
Time Management Tip: Set specific boundaries for both work and family time. Let your clients or team know your availability, and communicate to your family when you’ll be in “work mode” and when you’ll be with them. Having these boundaries in place helps eliminate guilt and gives you the space to be fully present in each role.
3. Leveraging Systems Across Multiple Platforms (“Lift and Shift”)
One of my biggest time-savers is a system I like to call “Lift and Shift.” Essentially, it’s about taking systems and processes that work well in one area of your life and applying them to others. As a mom and entrepreneur, this has been a lifesaver for managing my time more efficiently.
For instance, the systems I use to manage my photography clients—things like project management tools and email templates—are the same ones I use for podcasting and HR work. This means I don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time I switch between roles. It saves time, reduces stress, and keeps everything running smoothly.
Time Management Tip: Look for ways to use the same tools or strategies across different areas of your life. Maybe the calendar system you use to organize your child’s school events can also help you manage work projects. Streamlining these systems can free up more time for the things that matter most.
4. Prioritizing Tasks with Flexibility (Because Life Happens!)
As a mom, flexibility is key. No matter how well you plan, life with kids is full of surprises—whether it’s an unexpected school event, a last-minute playdate, or simply a day when your little one needs extra attention. That’s why I prioritize flexibility in my schedule.
One of the ways I do this is by using time-blocking. I block off time each day for specific tasks—whether it’s deep work for my business, running errands, or playtime with my child. But I always leave some buffer time for the unexpected. This way, when life throws a curveball, I can shift things around without losing focus or feeling stressed.
Time Management Tip: Build flexibility into your schedule. Block off time for important tasks, but leave some space for the unexpected. If your day gets derailed, adjust your plan instead of trying to squeeze everything in. It’s okay if not everything gets done in a single day—what matters most is that you prioritize what’s important.
5. Setting Boundaries with Technology: Mom Life Edition
Technology is both a blessing and a curse. While it helps me stay on top of my business, it can also be one of the biggest distractions—especially when I’m trying to spend time with my child. That’s why I’ve set boundaries around how and when I use technology.
For instance, I’ve decided that after 7 PM, I’m completely offline. That means no checking emails, no social media, and no work calls. It’s my time to wind down with my family, focus on bedtime routines, and just enjoy being a mom. Setting this boundary has made a huge difference in how I manage my work-life balance.
Time Management Tip: Set tech boundaries that protect your family time. Create “offline” hours when you don’t check work emails or scroll through social media. You’ll be surprised how much more present and recharged you’ll feel when you unplug and focus on your family.
6. Automating Repetitive Tasks to Save Time
As a busy mom and entrepreneur, anything that saves time is worth its weight in gold. One of the biggest time-savers for me has been automating repetitive tasks. Whether it’s scheduling social media posts or sending out client invoices, automation tools have helped me free up time for more important things—like spending time with my child.
I use tools like Buffer to schedule social media posts and a CRM to automate follow-up emails. This way, I don’t have to worry about manually handling these tasks every day. The time I save goes directly back into my family or into growing my business.
Time Management Tip: Take a look at your daily or weekly tasks and find areas where you can automate. Scheduling tools, invoicing systems, and automated reminders can help you cut down on time-consuming tasks so you can focus on what truly matters.
7. Reviewing and Refining Your Time Management Strategy (With Kids in Mind)
Time management isn’t static—especially when you’re a mom. As your child grows, your business evolves, and your priorities shift, your time management strategies will need to adjust. I regularly review how I’m spending my time to make sure I’m still balancing everything in a way that works for my family and my business.
Every few months, I take a step back and evaluate what’s working and what’s not. Sometimes that means tweaking my schedule or shifting priorities, especially when new activities or milestones come up in my child’s life. Being flexible and adaptable is key to maintaining balance.
Time Management Tip: Schedule regular check-ins with yourself to review your time management strategy. Are you spending enough time with your family? Are your business goals being met? If something feels off, adjust your schedule, systems, or boundaries as needed.
Time Management is the Key to Thriving as a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur and Mom
Being a multi-passionate entrepreneur and a mom comes with its own set of challenges, but with intentional time management, you can balance it all without sacrificing what’s most important. Whether setting boundaries, leveraging systems, or building flexibility into your day, the key is finding what works best for you and your family.
Remember, it’s not about doing it all perfectly—it’s about creating space for what matters most. Start small, stay consistent, and give yourself grace as you navigate both motherhood and entrepreneurship.
If you liked this post and found it helpful, I’d love to hear from you! You can connect with me at all the places below, and don’t forget to drop me a message letting me know that this post brought you my way—I’d love to say hi!
- Website: www.katymurrayphotography.com
- Instagram: @gingerbiz
- Podcast: Ginger Biz – Tune in for more insights on entrepreneurship, time management, and how to thrive in business and life!
Looking forward to connecting!
Helpful Resources for Managing Your Business and mastering Time management
As a busy entrepreneur and mom, I rely on tools that help streamline my processes and save me time. Here are some of my favorite resources that I’ve found incredibly useful for running my business smoothly:
- 17hats: This all-in-one business management platform is a lifesaver. It helps me stay on top of client management, contracts, invoicing, and project tracking—without getting overwhelmed. If you’re looking for a way to streamline your day-to-day operations, 17hats has you covered.
- Riverside.fm: As the host of my podcast, Ginger Biz, I use Riverside.fm for recording high-quality remote interviews. It’s easy to use and ensures that my podcast episodes sound professional, no matter where my guests are located.
- Buffer: Managing social media can be time-consuming, but Buffer helps me schedule posts in advance across multiple platforms. This way, I can stay consistent with my online presence without being glued to my phone all day.
- Planoly: For visually-driven businesses like photography, Planoly is an excellent tool to plan and schedule Instagram posts. I love how it allows me to see what my feed will look like and organize my content for the month.
- Canva: Need quick graphics for social media, marketing, or even podcast promos? Canva’s drag-and-drop design platform makes it easy for non-designers like me to create stunning visuals in minutes.
These tools have been game-changers for me, helping me stay organized, save time, and focus on the things I love most about my business and family.
About Katy
Katy is an Entrepreneur, Human Resources professional, and podcast host—and like many of you, she’s also navigating the adventure of motherhood. Katy is passionate about helping others thrive in their careers and businesses while also figuring out how to do the same.
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