Being a mum and a business owner is a full-time job, times two.

You’re leading client calls one minute and calming a toddler the next. The to-do list never ends, the inbox is full, and some days it feels like you’re doing everything and finishing nothing.

The truth is, you don’t need more motivation. You need a way to work that actually fits your life.

Here are five simple productivity shifts that have helped me run a business, raise a family, and stay (mostly) sane, without burning out or buying into the hustle.

1. I Don’t Rely on Willpower, I Rely on Systems

Motivation is inconsistent. Systems are not.

When you’re juggling nap times, school runs, or a baby who won’t nap at all, you need structure you can return to easily, not pressure to keep up.

Here’s what that looks like for me:

• Repeating task templates and workflows in Notion
• A weekly CEO reset that takes 15 minutes
• Pre-scheduled content so I’m not relying on real-time inspiration

The goal is not to be perfectly productive. The goal is to build rhythm into a reality that changes every day.

2. I Keep One Single Source of Truth

When your brain is juggling clients, groceries, bookings, and Bluey on repeat, context-switching becomes exhausting.

That’s why I keep everything in one place – my Notion dashboard.

Client notes, launch plans, content ideas, family appointments, even what’s for dinner it’s all in there.

This removes the “Where did I write that down?” spiral and gives me one clear place to land, even on the messiest days.

3. I Batch According to Energy, Not Tasks

I used to try time-blocking my day by task type. What actually works better for me is matching my work to my energy.

On low-energy days, I focus on simple admin, check-ins, or scheduling.

On high-energy days, I record, write, or map bigger-picture strategy.

I stopped expecting myself to be the same person every day.

Now I plan with the real version of me in mind.

4. I Default to “What Can I Delete?”

Before I try to automate or delegate, I ask myself one simple question:

Do I actually need to do this at all?

It’s so easy to carry tasks just because we’ve always done them.

But not everything deserves a spot on your calendar.

Now, when I feel behind, I pause and cut something – a post, a meeting, a task that’s not aligned.

This is how I create space to breathe without feeling like I’ve dropped the ball.

5. I Let Support Be a Strategy

Whether it’s asking for help with daycare pickups or automating parts of my client experience, I’ve learned to see support as part of my business model, not a bonus.

Support is not weakness. It’s structure.

For me, that looks like:

• AI tools that summarise, repurpose, or structure content
• Pre-built client templates that remove decision fatigue
• Real conversations with my partner about the mental load

There’s no prize for doing everything alone. The more I’ve leaned into support, the more momentum I’ve created, with less noise and way less pressure.

Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship isn’t about fitting more in.

It’s about getting clear on what matters, and building systems that support that clarity.

These five hacks won’t fix everything, but they will give you a place to start.

You don’t need to be superhuman.

You just need a business that works for the version of you who’s already doing so much.