I get asked a lot about how I manage multiple creative ventures while working full time without being burned-out. It has sparked the idea to write a blog about ways I have implemented in my life to “beat the burnout” being a creative mompreneur. I hope a couple things can help you stay empowered with your creative pursuits while also juggling everything else.

To give you a little background before I jump into the “meat”, I will start by saying this… I am NOT the expert in managing everything. In fact, I am on a continuous journey to find “balance” with all that God has given me to manage. I have experienced burnouts. MANY. But I think that’s part of the beauty of the journey.

I have always been an ambitious go getter… maybe even to a fault. I have always had dreams of working for myself and doing what I love. I have started and stopped numerous ventures, dabbling my hands in all different kind of things.

Through this journey of discovery, it has led me to land on two businesses I truly love and adore and also collaborate on multiple ventures with other creative mothers including Mother Creative and Eating to Live. I have learned how to be more efficient in the season of life I’m in, and truly fills me every minute I get to spend on them. If I had written this blog a couple years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to say that. I have been in seasons where I felt creatively empty and just didn’t have the motivation sometimes.

When I became a mother it re-sparked that creative fire in me like never before. I had this newfound, immense appreciation for time, health and love. Bearing a child helped me see my own strength and gave me a sense that I can do everything God has called me to do. However, it also led to more stress, so I had to become more efficient with the time I had.

I started viewing my “side-work” as a getaway rather than a chore. I started using my creative time as a time of worship and it helped me also connect with God in a unique way.

Through my journey of discovery, I hope I can encourage you to keep going through some things I have learned as you are on your creative journey. I hope reading these “tips” gives you empowerment to keep going after your dreams!

1. Give yourself grace with timelines and be realistic with the expectations you put on yourself.

I struggled SO much with feeling inadequate after having a baby because I had a hard time juggling a new baby and working on my business. It made me feel like a failure and made me feel less-than. It may sound silly, but I had this unrealistic expectation that my ability to accomplish things within a certain amount of time shouldn’t change with a baby if I adjust accordingly. I laugh at myself today and blame it on the hormones for being so hard on myself- but i know I am not alone.

You have the same time you had before a baby, but how you utilize your time looks drastically different after a baby. Something that may have taken you two days now takes you 2 weeks after having a kid. I realized that no one, not even God himself, was putting expectations on me to accomplish anything- I was the only one putting expectations on myself that caused me to feel burnt out. When I realized this, though, it made me take a step back and re-think my priorities.

2. PRIORITIZE.

I had to realize that beyond anything else, the most important thing I was doing was raising my son. Ladies, we are raising the next generation. Our kids are our legacy! Realize the most important thing you do is raise your kids. Additionally, when I did the list of “what matters most”, a.k.a prioritized, my marriage and relationship with God were at the very top. It helped me shed a light that I was putting too much energy into trying to be a creative entrepreneur when really the most important and worthwhile things (my family) were right in front of me. It’s not to say my creative ventures were not on the list, but I was dedicating way too much headspace into my next line or art piece for Free Citizen or my Creative Studio & so it was stealing the sweet moments with my baby and my husband and I didn’t even realize it. I encourage you to do that same exercise so you can see where you have been allocating head and physical space.

Additionally, since our creative ventures are so important to us, my husband and I created a weekly calendar of priorities and goals. Every week we put a family day on the calendar, make a list of “must dos” and then have a list of 1-5 goals in our creative business we want to accomplish. It helps us know where are head is at with our businesses and helps us understand the time we need in a given week to work on our business. It has helped us a lot and has helped us put the pressure off of the lie that if we aren’t productive in our businesses, we are not worth it.

3. It’s okay to take breaks.

When I came to the realization that the most important things to me were right in front of me, it helped me feel peace with taking breaks from working when I needed to. However, it is so hard (at least for me) to take breaks and see on social media these other creatives launching new things and seeming to be able to manage everything perfectly. It took time with God to keep the understanding that we are all on unique journeys and where we are on our journeys are different, too. I had to trust that, even though I felt I was letting things go to die, God was keeping them. They never are dead in Him. He can resurrect anything that we think is dead. I had seen it first hand in other areas of my life, so why wouldn’t it be the same in this area?

I know that some of you rely on your small business to bring in income, and I can relate, as my husband is a full time entrepreneur. We just have to constantly communicate and check in so we can adjust accordingly to our family and individual needs.

Don’t feel guilty about taking a break. All things happen in God’s perfect timing. Seek peace, pursue it, and take it day by day!

4. Keep a positive mindset. Start believing in divine capacity.

This is a big one. It’s important because it can shape your life. If you think negatively about your season in life, everything will seem difficult. The joy in things will not shine through. God had to help me with this in different seasons. I started thanking Him for the small, mundane things and that helped me see how blessed I was. It helped me see Him in everyday. Thanking him for the mundane led to me thanking him for random ideas I would get, the time I got to work on different things and it helped me thinking about the possibilities instead of seeing how hard things were. So if you need help getting into a positive mindset, start by practicing thankfulness.

5. Don’t put God in a box.

I used to think I had to do either or, do my creative ventures full time or work full time for someone else, but now I never think that. I think “why can’t I have/do it all”? I truly believe that God gives us divine capacity to do all the things He has given us to do.

The Bible states, while he heals two blind men in Matthew 9:29 “According to your faith be it done to you”. This verse is a core value in my life and it has helped break chains in my mind and spirit. If I am in union with Jesus, He will guide me to do ALL He has for me to do, according to His will, purpose and timing for my life.

Right now, I believe He calls me to work out of the home to provide for my family and gives me divine capacity to come home, mother, wife, and continue on with my dreams. Believe that when you are in Christ, there is a NEW creature, that includes how you think, walk, talk, the abilities you have, the gifts you unlock, etc… because of Jesus. Don’t put Him in a box, as He will do exceedingly abundantly MORE than you could ever ask or image. Put that faith into works, friend! And see the fruit!

 

I hope this post has helped re-spark the thought that you can beat the burnout. That your story isn’t over with your business, motherhood, and beyond. You are doing amazing. Keep going.

With Love,

Aisha

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