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The Working Parent's Guide (Yes, Even At A Startup)

The Working Parent's Guide (Yes, Even At A Startup)

When you’re in the startup trenches, it’s easy to forget there’s life outside of your business.

Here’s a reminder:

People have families!

ALSO:

When you support them as parents, you feel better inside, they do better work, and the human race continues!

You know when is a good time to publish a post on being a working parent?

Right after a holiday weekend 😉

Welcome back, Moms and Dads!

Quick Refresh: Parental Leave

Let’s start at the beginning of working parenthood.

Get Sh!t Done: 7 Tips For Maximum Productivity & Impact

I can’t speak for dads (never been one), but I don’t know many people more ruthlessly efficient than working moms!

Here are things that the happiest, most effective working parents (and humans) do regularly.

1. Prioritize

Get clear on your priorities. You can’t do it all. Know what’s important and do that. High revenue, high impact items first.

2. Delegate

Learn about the decision tree so you can delegate effectively and don’t be a bottleneck! You don’t need to do it all. Use the resources and people available.

The task you are dreading might be an exciting learning opportunity for someone else.

3. Manage Expectations

This includes your own 😂

Pulling all-nighters or 7a Zoom meetings may not be possible anymore.

Manage “up” extremely well, including saying no to your boss. (Also works on investors 😉)

Most people don’t need things instantaneously, they want to know when to expect them and have them delivered on time.

4. Control Your Schedule

No time for fluff meetings. Make sure it’s important and audit regularly. Bundle similar activities together. A no-meeting day can be a life saver in getting stuff done. Here’s all the tips!

5. “No.”

Regularly saying no (examples and more examples of how to do this politely) is key to prioritizing and having time for the priorities. Saying no is the hardest thing for me. But practice makes perfect and I do it anyway! 😂

6. Self-Reflection

Be aware of how you might be getting in your own way or procrastinating. No time for self-sabotage!

7. Your Team

Have the A-Team around you including interns, contractors, executive coaches, or anyone else that can help you survive crush it.

Having great people around you makes it more fun and lightens your load! By “lighten your load” I mean that you only do your job instead of your job and everyone else’s 😂

Staying Sane: 6 Real World Strategies

The other part of the working parent equation is the non-work side!

How to manage allll the other things so that you can be present and happy at work.

It’s things like:

  • Sleeping

  • Eating

  • Social connection

  • Getting outside

  • Movement

  • Hobbies (lol. you can have 1, maybe 2. Pick wisely.)

Here’s ideas on how to make it work. I’ve done all/most of these so I can vouch!

1. Simplify

Especially daily routines. Updos instead of blow outs. A closet full of black jumpsuits (real life). Taking a break from social media. Eating the same breakfast. Anything to reduce cognitive load for things that don’t matter to you!

2. Consolidate

I run with friends → social connection, outdoor time, movement, hobbies in 45 minutes. ✅✅✅

Lunch outside with the team → social connection, eating, outdoor time, enjoyable work ✅✅✅

Stroller playdate with a bestie.
Walk your kids to school.
Meal prep party with friends (or family).
Team yoga retreat.
Networking over breakfast.

My husband and I did a morning run date as part of daycare drop off. Run child to school in jog stroller, talk about life on the way home. Exercise, weekly date, childcare, doing daycare drop off anyway ✅✅✅

You get the idea. How can you combine favorite or important things?

3. Micro Habits

Is a morning workout a pipe dream right now? Have you eaten canned soup 4 days in a row?

  1. It gets easier.

  2. Do what you can!

Little things add up AND progress is empowering.

Incorporating small daily habits is key for busy founders with or without kids!

Here’s 6 examples of tiny healthy habits which don’t even include a walking treadmill for meetings, using a fitness tracker for steps or sleep, or easy lunches and healthy fast food options!

Here are some quick, healthy homemade snacks in 3 minutes or less.

4. Outsource

If you’re worried about cost, run the numbers or get creative.

You may find that grocery delivery decreases impulse purchases, a meal service offsets restaurant spend, or your company can cover or help with some items.

A motivated college or high school student can probably handle everything on this list! (You know how much I love interns for this very reason.)

5. Coordination

#1 reason for working parent meltdowns? Co-parent miscommunication.

That’s not an official stat but I bet I’m right.😉

Make a list of weekly to-dos and add DRIs, get clear on the priorities, have a weekly sync.

Time to apply all those work skills at home!

Seriously though:

6. Patience & Gratitude

Last but not least…the most important and annoying parts of a happy life as a working parent:

  • appreciating this special chaos and your sweet children

  • being patient with yourself and life

  • it’s never perfect, always changing, and that’s part of the ride!

If you’re a working parent, what has worked for you? What tools, strategies, advice worked?? What is the hardest part right now?