Juggling Motherhood + Business With Intention
When I first started my photography business, I was saying "yes" to everything. Every inquiry, every session, every opportunity. And honestly, I don't regret that. I learned so much during that season.. about photography, about client relationships and about myself.
But I also learned what burnout feels like.
At home, I was running on empty. I was stretched thin as a mom and a wife, trying to do it all. I was constantly overwhelmed and the mental load of switching between business tasks and motherhood left very little time for me to just be present in either role.
Fast forward to today.. and things look little different. Not perfect. But better. I've created a rhythm that works for me and my family. It took trial, error and honest conversations with myself (and my husband), but I've landed on something that allows me to give my best where it matters most.
Most mornings I wake up about an hour before my boys. I use that time to reset the house a little, answer emails or do some editing. Once they're up, I'm in "mom mode" until nap time. My oldest doesn't nap anymore, but he does quiet time in his room for about an hour and the younger two still nap pretty well so I know I have that extra window to work again.
My husband's job as a firefighter means he's gone a lot and when he's not on shift, he's also running his own business. For a while, I found myself working on the days he was home and it hit me.... we were losing precious family time because I hadn't set boundaries around work.
This past year, I starting shifting my work to align with his schedule so when he's working, I'm working. And when he's home, I can truly be present with our family. That small change has made the biggest difference in how connected we feel at home.
Here's the truth: there is no one size fits all when it comes to balancing motherhood and running a business. It's personal. It's evolving and it's okay if it takes time to figure out what your rhythm looks like.
If you're in a season where you're taking on every session and feeling completely consumed, I get it. But if it's pulling you away from the life you're building and the people you love most- it's worth asking yourself "Is this still working for me?"
At the end of the day, success isn't just a fully booked calendar. It's being able to do what you love without losing yourself in the process. You deserve that balance and you can create it!!
It's okay to do things your way.
With much love,
Jonna
