Written by Staci Swiderski - 09/12/2024 

Being both a CEO and a mother is an incredible feat that demands time, energy, and balance. Whether you're managing boardroom meetings or soccer practices, juggling these roles requires smart strategies and a clear mindset. Here’s a guide to help female CEOs, who are also mothers, thrive in both their professional and personal lives.

1. Master the Art of Time Management

Balancing your time effectively is key. It’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in multiple directions, but proper time management can help you stay organized and stress-free.

Key Strategies:

• Block scheduling: Set specific blocks of time for work, family, and personal downtime.
• Prioritize tasks: Use the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between urgent and important tasks.
• Delegate: Don't be afraid to delegate both at work and at home.

Time Management Tool	Description	Best For
Google Calendar	Schedule meetings, events, and reminders	Managing day-to-day tasks and appointments
Trello	Organize tasks visually with boards and lists	Projects and collaboration with your team
Todoist	Task management with deadlines and reminders	Keeping personal and work tasks separate but organized

2. Set Boundaries to Protect Your Energy

As a CEO and mother, you're constantly giving. Setting clear boundaries will help prevent burnout and ensure you're present where you're needed most.

Tips for Setting Boundaries:

• Work hours: Set specific work hours and avoid letting them bleed into family time.
• Turn off notifications: After a certain hour, turn off non-essential work notifications.
• Say no: Politely but firmly decline tasks or projects that aren’t essential to your role or goals.

3. Create a Support System

A strong support system is invaluable. Whether it’s your spouse, family, friends, or a trusted nanny, having people you can count on allows you to focus on what truly matters.

Building Your Support Network:

• At home: Make sure your partner or family shares household responsibilities.
• At work: Delegate non-critical decisions to trusted team members.
• For your kids: Enlist a reliable babysitter, nanny, or daycare service to help care for your children when you’re in CEO mode.

4. Incorporate Self-Care into Your Routine

Don’t forget about yourself. Running a company and a family takes a toll. Incorporating self-care into your routine helps you stay recharged and ready to tackle the day.

Simple Self-Care Practices:

• Morning meditation: Start your day with 10 minutes of mindfulness or meditation.
• Exercise regularly: Even 30 minutes a day of yoga, walking, or light exercise can make a difference.
• Sleep well: Prioritize 7-8 hours of sleep to stay mentally sharp.

Self-Care Activity	Benefit	Time Investment
Meditation	Reduces stress, boosts mental clarity	10-15 minutes daily
Yoga	Enhances flexibility, promotes relaxation	30 minutes 3x/week
Reading	Stimulates the mind, promotes relaxation	15-30 minutes before bed

5. Practice Flexibility

The unexpected happens both at work and at home. The key is to stay flexible. Being able to adapt quickly to changing situations allows you to move forward without feeling overwhelmed.

Ways to Stay Flexible:

• Plan for the unexpected: Build buffer time into your day to handle emergencies.
• Embrace imperfection: Not everything will go perfectly — and that's okay.
• Work remotely: When necessary, leverage technology to work from home or on the go.

6. Teach Your Children About Your Career

As a female CEO and mother, you are a role model for your children. Use your position to teach them about work ethic, responsibility, and ambition.

How to Get Them Involved:

• Explain your work: Let your children know what you do and why it’s important.
• Include them in decisions: For age-appropriate tasks, ask for their input on simple choices related to family routines or even your business.
• Be open about challenges: Show your children that it’s okay to face challenges and how to overcome them.

Conclusion

Balancing the responsibilities of being both a CEO and a mother can be tough, but with the right strategies, it's absolutely possible to excel in both roles. By prioritizing time management, creating a support system, practicing self-care, and staying flexible, you can lead your company while also being present for your family.

Remember, success doesn't come from doing it all perfectly — it comes from managing what matters most and making the most of every moment.